The American Bahá’í/Volume 31/Issue 9/Text

←Previous

The American Bahá’í
Volume 31, Issue 9

Next→

Return to PDF view

[Page 1]

n VE

> hay en VX

MASA’IL/QUESTIONS

SHARAF/HONOR BAHAI ERA 157

Universal House of Justice's message to the Baha'is of the world dated October 29, 2000 Ds Baha’{ Friends,

Lutchmaya, Enos Makhele, Maina Mkandawire, Rachel Ndegwa, ‘The Day of the Covenant, 26 November 2000, marks the commencement of a

Boards of Counselors named

The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to share with you the following message from the Universal House of Justice announcing the appointment of the new Continental Boards of Counselors for their fi term of servic November 26, 2000.

Muhammad Otmani, Ahmad Parsa, Garth Pollock, Antoinette Ziehi, Tiati 4 Zock. THE AMERICAS (19 Counsellors): Eugene Andrews, Eloy Anello, Stephen Birkland, Gustavo Correa, Irma Nelly de Dooki, Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian, Angélica Huerta, Anténio Gabriel Marques, Hervé Masrour, Catherine Monajjem, Rebequa Murphy, Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian, Arturo Serrano, Crystal Shoaie, David Smith, Marilyn Smith, Leticia de Solano, Rodrigo Tomas (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Dorothy Whyte.

new fiv ar term of service for members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors for the Protection and

Propagation of the Faith. The number of these high-ranking officers of the Cause remains at eighty-one. We are happy to announce the names of the Counsellors now appointed.

AFRICA (19 Counsellors): Beth Allen, George Allen, Beatrice Asare, Asfaw Tessema, Niaz Bushrui, Mehraz Ehsani (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Clément-Thyrrel Feizouré, Kobina Fynn, Ibrahim Galadima, Kamaye Moussa, Eddy

National Assembly thanks the U.S. friends

After the first series of meetings with Baha’is across the country, Oct. 21-22, the National Spiritual Assembly composed this message of appreciation to the American Baha’i community.

SEE UNIVERSAL HOUSE, PAGE 4

Service at the school

Aterm of service at the Baha’i schools means lots of work along with fun, as Theo Sery (shown outside the Louhelen kitchen) can testify. See page 16. Photo by Jim Cheek

he National Spiritual Assembly is profoundly grateful for the enthusiastic participation of the community in support of the Kingdom Project. Words cannot fully express our appreciation to the Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards, the core advisors of the project, the Local Spiritual Assemblies who participate in the meetings, and those who, in addition, host the meetings. Our thanks would not be complete without recognizing the extraordinary support of the Regional Baha’ uncils and, most especially, the friends across the country—adults and youth—who attended in large numbers. The American Baha’i Community is well on its way to achieving victory in this important enterprise whose purpose

THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1 and October 31, 2000

SEE MEETINGS, PAGE 4

National Baha’i Conference

June 28 - July 1, 2000 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

BUILDING THE KINGDOM

Excluding Kingdom Project See page 3 for details

For Every MAN, WOMAN, YOUTH & CHILD

he National Spiritual Assembly looks forward to an exciting summer 2001!

so that every voice can be heard in the workshops and seminars where children, youth, families, individuals and

We will be hosting a national conference entitled “Building the Kingdom for Every Man, Woman, Youth & Child” to launch the Five Year Plan with love and joy in an atmosphere where we learn from each other.

Special emphasis will be given to the role and participation of children and youth as integral members of a united and supportive spiritual and social community.

The conference will be dedicated to sharing our experiences

institutions can communicate what they are learning about advancing all aspects of “Building the Kingdom.”

Invitations to the conference will be sent to seekers who responded to the media initiative by requesting to be involved directly with the Baha’i community. More details about the facility and travel will be available soon.

The time is now to prepare to join us June 28-July 1, 2001, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[Page 2]ALMANAC

Some significant dates in Baha‘i history

Late December and early January

Dec. 20, 1844: The Bab, while on his pilgrimage in Mecca, stood at the Ka‘bih (the holiest shrine of Islam) and declared three times in the presence of 100,000 pilgrims that He was the Qé’im awaited by Shf'ih Muslims.

Jan. 16, 1845: The Bab arrived in Medina during His pilgrimage to sacred sites of Islam, only days after an edict was issued in Baghdad condemning Him to death as an unbeliever. The Dawn-Breakers (pages 140-141) describes His knowledge that returning to Persia would mean certain martyrdom. Jan. 12, 1853: Baha’u'llah and several members of F including ‘Abdu’l-Bah4, began their journey out of P¢ never to return, after Baha’u'lléh was banished to Baghdad. ‘The journey through snowy terrain was one of many hardships the Blessed Beauty endured in a series of exil Dec. 17, 1919: ‘Abdu’'l-Baha sent a Tablet defining the Baha'i peace program to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague, Netherlands.

Jan. 3, 1922: The first, private reading of the Will and ‘Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha revealed that the Master established the institution of the Guardianship, and that His grandson Shoghi Effendi was appointed to that position. The will was read to a gathering of Bah’fs of many countries on Jan. 7, and

family,

the Greatest Holy Leaf cabled the news of the Guardianship to the Baha'is of the United States on Jan. 16.

Dec. 24, 1951: Shoghi Effendi named the first contingent of Hands of the Cause of God to serve under the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. This contingent of 12 appointees included Amelia Collins, the first living Baha’{ named as a Hand of the Cause by the Guardian. It was the first general announcement of her appointment, which had been made five years earlier.

Dec. 13, 1963: Baha'i prisoners in Morocco were released under order of the country’s Supreme Court after having been imprisoned under threat of death. Only weeks earlier the Universal House of Justice asked Baha’fs worldwide to pray for this case at the t of Qawl.

Dec. 13, 1985: The United Nations General Assembly, for the first time, adopted a resolution on human rights that specifically mentioned the situation of the Baha’fs in Iran.

Significant upcoming dates

Ayyaim-i-Ha (Intercalary Days), Feb. 26-March |

Month of fasting (Ala), March 2-20

Naw-Riiz (Baha’i New Year), March 21

¢ Festival of Ridvan (anniversary of Declaration of Baha’u'llah), April 21-May 2

Facts in the “Some Significant Dates” section were compiled from A Basic Bahd’i Chronology.

=XCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

Curtis BRADLEY, a Bahd’i in Denver, Colorado, was recently honored by the mayor and city council in a resolution honoring Bradley's civic activity over several years, especially on environmental and animal cruelty matters. The resolu

tion credits him with “vision, compassion,

and caring interaction with people.”

CARMEL BULKIN, a 17-year-old Baha’{ in Carlsbad, California, was selected as a scholar by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. The only student from her high school to be nominated for this honor, she was invited to participate in this year’s National Young Leaders Conference in November.

ELMER KORTEMAYER, a Baha’ in Waterloo, Iowa, was recently inducted into the University of Northern Iowa Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking service in sports medicine, including a pivotal role in developing the university's academic program in that field. Now a professor emeritus, he also has volunteered his expertise for local high schools and for the government of Bahrain.

ARASH LOTFIOU, a Baha’{ in South Beach, Florida, was named outstanding MBA graduate at the University of Miami. He earned his master of business administration degree with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, served as president of his MBA class and organized regular volunteer events to the Miami Children’s Home Society.

‘ToriGH RAayal, a Baha’ in Brookline, Massachusetts, was elected and inducted earlier this year as president of the 25,000-member American Association

of Women Dentists. A dentist s ince f 1971 and USS. resi dent since 1974,

search projeccts on orthodontic techniques, and continues to be involved in dental education.

‘TANNIN SADE 7-year-old Bah: Edmond, Oklahoma, was a gold medal winner in his age group in tae kwan do competition at the 20th US. Junior Olympics held over the summer in San Antonio, Texas.

Hi WEAVER, a Baha’ in Bradenton, Florida, was recently honored by the local Masonic Lodge for her more than 8,000 hours’ volunteer service at the Manatee Memorial Hospital since 1990.

Your Regional Bah

xcerpts from a recent open letter

to SHIRIN BOROUMAND SELPH of Springfield, Massachusetts, from the Regional Baha’i Council for the Northeastern States:

’{ Council has

heard of your tirele efforts in promoting racial harmony not only in the Springfield, Massachusetts, school system and at the rersity of Massachusetts, but in your region as well. The fact that the state legislature recently honored you for your outstanding services in the field of human rights helps to legitimize the Bah: Faith in the eyes of the public. It is a priceless teaching accomplishment. You have turned your professional po: tion as the multicultural specialist in the Springfield schools into a one-person social development project. ...

The Council is also aware of your direct services to the Faith. You serve faithfully on the Springfield Local Spiritual Assembly, and devote much of your free time in directing the Baha'i Race Unity Workshop, which has won wide acclaim in New England. We are also impressed that as a single parentyou have raised two outstanding children. ...

We pray for your continued success in your selfless services to our Faith and

community-at-large.

In the Sept. 27, 2000, issue of The

American Baha'i, the article on the passing of Audrey Robarts misstated the name of one of her surviving sons. ‘The final paragraph should have read: “She is survived by her sons, Aldham, Gerald and Patrick Robarts, and daughter, Nina Tinnion, all of whom have pioneered for the Faith.”

Corrections

In the June 5, 2000, issue of The

American Babd’t, the following communities were inadvertently left out of the Community Honor Roll for 156 B.E. due to a program error: Seal Beach, California; and Frederick, Maryland (which also submitted an audit for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1999).

ove) AMERICAN

BAHAI

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BanA’is OF THE UNrreD STATES

Baha’f National Center 847-869-9039

Editorial Office of The American Baha@t Mail: 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 Phone: 847-869-9039 Fax: 847-251-3652 E-mai

Editor James Humphrey /

Associate Editor ‘Tom Mennillo

Facilities Manager, Baha’i Media Services Artis Mebane

Contributors

David Bikman, Patty Carleton, Jim Cheek,

Manuchehr Derakhshani, Randolph Dobbs, Dennis

Grundman, Heather L. Jensen, C. Aaron Kreader,

Barbara McCord, Eliza Rasiwala, James M. Schear, Ruhi Vargha, Tom Wilson

PUBLISHED ONCE EVERY 38 DAYS (plus one special issue) for a total of 10 issues per: year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and additional mailing offices. ISSN Number: 1062-1113 Canada: Publications 4 Number 1486683

ement

ADDRESS CHANGES If you have an address change, or wish to stop or consolidate mailings, contact the Membership Office, Baha'i National Center, 1233 Cenual St, Evanston, IL

60201 (e-mail b ‘There is no need to contact the Editors directly. A form is on the back page.

SUBMITTING ARTICLES AND PHOTOS THE AMERICAN BAHA‘i welcomes news, letters or other items of interest from individuals and institutions of the Baha'i Faith.

ARTICLES should be clear, concise and

relevant to the goals of the worldwide and national teaching plans. We may edit stories for length. We cannot print advance articles to publicize locally sponsored events, but may be able to list them in the Calendar.

PHOTOGRAPHS may be color or blackand-white prints. Please submit photos

that are well-composed and in focus, and identify people in photos when possible. If you wish photos returned, include a self-addressed envelope (you do not need to supply postage).

DEADLINES for upcoming issues:

Feb. 26, 2001: Deadline January 12 March 21, 2001: Deadline February 9

PLEASE ADDRESS ALL ITEMS for possible: publication to The American Baha’, 1233 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (e-mail »

2000 by the National Spiritual Assembly of CHV ie Rete

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

page 2

Tue American BanA’i * ALMANAC/EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

December 12, 2000 [Page 3]protestant praia retain aatn ge Seem

THE*SECO

D+ FRONT

Soe pinisen cae

‘Establishing New Bases for Human Happiness’

Our study program for 2001

hat does it take to be happy? What are the true bases for human happiness?

The question of happin sential to our Faith and to the life of every human being. Baha’u’lléh proclaimed, “We desire but the good of the world and the iness of the nations.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahé “You must live in the utmost happiness.” Not only must we try to be happy, our job is to try to make others happy, too: “Your utmost desire must be to confer happiness upon each other. Each one must be the servant of the others, thoughtful of their comfort and welfare.” —from The Promulgation of Universal Peace

How do we do this? How can we fill a tall order like that?

We invite you to explore this challenge in “Establishing New Bases for Human Happiness,” the annual theme and curriculum framework for 2001 developed by the National Education and Schools Office at the request of the National Spiritual Assembl

stablishing New Bases for Human ” is based on themes from the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf by Baha’u’llah and The Secret of Divine Civilization by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It will provide a framework for the regional and permanent schools to

Epistle a Son

DIVINE. OW ieyAae Nt}

of ae a

plan their curricula, as well as for the entire American Baha’i community.

The National Spiritual Assembly has asked that we study each of these books over a six-month period, so that we become familiar with and grounded in the fundamentals of the Faith and gain a deeper understanding ofits basic tenets.

In January 2001 we are to turn our focus to the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, which has often been described as the summary of Baha’u’ revelation. In Shoghi Effendi’s words, it is “replete with unnumbered exhortations, revolutionizing principles, world-shaping laws and ordinan: oul-uplifting prayers and meditatior fF

In July, study is to begin on The Secret of Divine Civilization. This is the blueprint for applying the “theory” of how to

spiritualize the lives of individu

lies, communities and institutior In “Establishing New Bases for

Human Happiness,” we will be looking

at three basic themes:

Baha’u’llah: The Sublimity of His

Station The first basis of happin

ing our hearts to Baha’u’ll

becoming more familiar with His station as the Manifestation of God and world

Reformer. We will explore His mission

and the power of His Revelation.

¢ The Role of Religion: To Reconstruct the World The second basis focuses on the role

of religion and our role as a people of religion to propel forward an ever-advancing spiritual civilization by looking at our mission as human beings and ways to manifest the signs of God in our own lives.

Spiritual Leadership: To See Oneself as Only One of the Servants

The third theme revolves around the

spiritual leadership that we are all called

upon to assume in our personal lives and in our administrative and civic duties, wherein service to others becomes the

connectand

SEE STUDY, PAGE 29

Small community employs ‘higher math’ to stretch its goals

This article was submitted by the treasurer of a registered Baha’i group ina rural area of the U.S. Southwest, who asked not to be identified by name.

Me Ridvan two years ago, when we sur | our Fund goal, we decided to ineré the next goal by 25 percent. By Ridvén 1999, having exceeded that goal by almost 30 percent, the community decided, unanimously and joyfully, to double the goal from the previous year, even though our community had shrunk in size by one-third. Not only did we reach that seemingly impossible goal— we exceeded it by almost 13 percent!

The National Spiritual Assembly looks forward to greeting the elected delegates at the 92nd Baha’ National Convention. The Convention will open Thursday evening, April 26, and close midday Sunday, April 29. All elected delegates will have reserved seats in Foundation Hall throughout the Convention.

Sound good? How about miraculous? Our community is no thriving metropolis. We are a group of four adults and four children in a village of about 1,000, representing a county of about 6,000 (outside of incorporated cities). Our ned annual income is not imprese, and during the slow times of year, we might be counting pennies for gros. (No, we did not find buried treasure or inherit from a long-lost aunt.) We are fathers and mothers, students, builders and shop-owners. Occasionally we can contribute through art and music. We had one wonderful fund raiser that accounted for over a third of the year’s

92nd Baha'i National Convention ¢ April 26-29, 2001

Foundation Hall, Baha'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois Visitors, including family members of delegates, may apply for pre-registration with this form. Due to limited seating, only those who have applied by February |, 2001, will be admitted to the Baha'i House of Worship Visitors Center during the Convention. Seating will be assigned on a first-applied, first-served basis.

total—we held a sale. Everyone helped with pricing and setting out the goods, and the kids did most of the selling. The rest of our contributions were gained through hard work and many small blessings.

Of course, there are other goals we find difficult, like meeting for every Feast, and yes, we have our differences (consultation can be lively!).

What is important is the spirit of unity that has prompted the setting of our Fund goals. When we consulted for this year’s goal, and our eldest youth said, “I'll be earning money; I can contribute more”— how could even the treasurer object?

We doubled our goal again.

Baha’i ID number Last Name First Name ML. Mailing Address

( ) City State Zip Code Home phone

Hotel reservations: This form is for confirmation of attendance only. ALL PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING DELEGATES must make their own lodging arrangements. Participants may take advantage of a special rate at the Doubletree Hotel North Shore (phone 800-222-TREE or 847-679-7000). When making hotel reservations, ask for the Baha’ National Convention contract rate (double occupancy = $119).

Enrollments

October 2000 ..... Reece RI

Since May 1, 2000 ............ 751

THE FUND

30% of year’s

goal was met

50% oF fiscal

year has passed

April 30, 2001

Total cash-basis revenues and expenditures

for Baha’i National Fund May 1, 1999-October 31, 2000

(contributions, book sales, schoo! fees etc.)

$12,784,916

Expenditures (operations, capital and debt payments ete.)

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

_ Please write Baha’ ID # on check

been ie eatie

Please check if you will need the following assistance:

Wheelchair accessibility

__ Sign language interpretation (provided only on request; please submit request no later than February 1, 2001)

Please complete this form and mail to: Conventions Office Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 No phone registrations, please

December 12,2000 = THe AMERICAN BanA’i * THe SECOND Front

page 3

[Page 4]

POST ARIIE

Participants from many backgrounds joined the Men’s Seminar held at Green Acre Baha’i School by the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Women’s Affairs.

Men’s voices on equality

Seminar brings soul-searching, pledges for action

INFORMATION FROM TOM WILSON AND JAMES HEAR

k time for men to talk about the equality of women and men. That brought soul-searching, the beginnings of transformation—and even pledges to act in tribute to their mothers.

In the first of two planned Men’s Seminars, 14 Baha’f men gathered Oct. 13-15 at Green Acre Baha'i School, invited by the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Women’ Affai

‘The men were brought together to discuss gender equ: from their cultural perspectives and to make recommendations

to the Office of Women’s Affairs about ad- .

vancing the equal partnership of women and men in the U.S. Baha’ community. s—this first facilitated by Eugene Andrews—were in the spirit of a Women’s Seminar held in June 1999; in fact, such men’s meetings had been suggested at that Women’s Seminar.

In preparation for the gatherings, the men were invited to write brief essays on gender equality from their own cultural perspectives, in addition to a number of assigned readings (see box).

s foundation allowed the men to break down communication barriers sooner than they might have otherwise.

“Because we had to write our essays first,” said participant ‘Tom Wilson, “and because we knew we would be sharing those essays with the other men, there was a level of commitment and openness going into the seminar that led to a spirit of intimacy which I’ve never experienced among men elsewhere.”

Thoughtful discussion of the essays and Baha’f writings led to new levels of understanding about the historic reality of inequality and to a deeper appreciation for women.

Reflections on their mothers’ lives, in particular, moved the men to offer special prayers in their names. Inspired to action, each one decided to write letters to their mothers, whether still living or not, to express gratitude for all their mothers had done for them, and to share a specific course of action they would take, also in their mother’s name, to promote the advancement of women in society.

Feelings that surfaced include remorse about past misdeeds, sadness about missed opportunities, and regret about unchecked

Readings on

equality

Some of the readings required for the Men’s Seminar at Green Acre:

Women: Extracts from the Writings of Bahd’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Bahd,

Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.

+ Advancement of Women: A Bahda’i Perspective by Janet and Peter Khan.

“The Role of Men in Establishing

the Equality of Women,” an article by Hoda Mahmoudi. —

“Violence Against Women and

Girls,” an article by Michael Penn.

For more information about the Men’s Seminar, including a complete list of its assigned readings, or to contribute a short essay for potential publication in the next edition of Common Journeys (devoted to essays by men), please contact: Office of Women’s Affairs,

Butler Bivd., Lansing, MI 48915

(phone i » e-mail

attitudes of privilege. When the men examined their attitudes aloud, _ it represented the first time some of them had ever done so.

Pausing to reflect on special qualities identified with women, such as mental alertness, boldness, intuition, love and service, the men were moved to envision how life will be different when women are full partners in all fields found themselves exan \g is and masculinity and looked to the Bahs’i writings for new definitions.

All through the weekend, as the men sought to cast off old attitudes and re’ what was in their hearts, it became e' dent they were engaging in a process of transformation. They realized that their work was only beginning and that they needed to further examine attitudes of superiority, practice new behaviors in and thereby respond to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s challenge: “When men own the equality of women, there will be no need for them to struggle for their rights.”

UNIVERSAL HOUSE,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE |

ASIA (19 Counsellors): Fadel Ardakani, Baatar Uransaikhan, Nidavanur Baskaran, Irene Chung, Jabbar Eidelkhani, Bijan Farid, Elena Grouzkova, David Huang (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Humaida Jumalon, Lee Lee Ludher, Delafruz Nassimova, Lori Noguchi, Jaya Gopan Ramasamy, Lateef Rashid, Foad Reyhani, Payam Shoghi, Zena Sorabjee, George Soraya, Rosalie Tran. AUSTRALASIA (11 Counsellors): Beatrice Benson, Donald Blanks, David Chittleborough (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Jalal Mills, Sirds Naraqi, Manijeh Reyhani, Heather Simpson, Henry Tamashiro, Erama Ugaia, Robin White, Fereidoun Yazdani. EUROPE (13 Counsellors): Fevziye Baki, Alla Borets, Uta von Both, Firouzeh Moghbel, Paul Ojermark, Patrick O’Mara (Trustee of the Continental Fund), Shahriar Razavi, Ilhan Sezgin, Nosrat Tirandaz, Nicola Towfigh, Larissa Tsutskova, Sohrab Youssefian, Ivo Zerbes. The following believers, whose contributions to the advancement of the Faith have earned our profound appre ation, are being relieved of the duties of membership on the Boards of Counsel

lors:

Borhanoddin Afshin, Ben Ayala, Hooshidar Balazadeh, Patricia Coles, Parvine Djoneydi, Wilma Ellis, Tod Ewing, Shidan Fat’he-Aazam, Linda Gershuny, Louis Hénuzet, Hizzaya Hissani, Nobuko Iwakura, Abbas Katirai, Zekrullah Kazemi, Kim Myungjung, Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, Betra Majmeto, Peter McLaren, Alejandra Miller, Perin Olyai, Nabil Perdu, Maija Pihlainen, Ruth Pringle, Polin Rafat, Daniel Ramoroesi, Shapour Rassekh, Cyrus Rohani, Vicente Samaniego, Isabel de Sanchez, Bruce Saunders, Errol Sealy,

MEETINGS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE |

is to prepare us for the dramatic growth that we are certain is fast approaching. Specifically, the Kingdom Project will provide the material means to enable us to meet the demands of the new souls we anticipate welcoming in the near future by ensuring that Baha'i properties are repaired and maintained including the Bal House of Worship, the Hazfratu’l-Quds, and the permanent Baha'i schools; by providing for the exative and other national teaching efforts and the founding of a new publishing entity to

Edith Senoga, Farhad Shayani, Tiberiu Vajda, Lally Warren, Wingi Mabuku.

We are confident that these di ed friends will continue to display the utmost valour and se rifice in the pathway of service to Our fervent prayers at the Holy Threshold will surround each of them.

The accomplishments of the Four Year Plan, now being consolidated, have established a pace of growth that is tain to gain added momentum. The Five Year Plan, to be launched at Ridvan, holds immense promise. In the discharge of their responsibilities for the propagation and protection of the Faith, the Counsellors and the Auxiliary Board members will play a vital role, in collaboration with Spiritual Assemblies and Regional Councils, in ensuring that the design and implementation of programmes of action, from the national to the local level, respond to the exigencies of the hour.

The Counsellors in all continents are being called to the World Centre to tal part in deliberations on the general features of the Five Year Plan from 9 to 13

r

January 2001. They will be joined by the

Auxiliary Board members who will have gathered from throughout the world to participate in events marking the occupation by the International Teaching Centre of its permanent seat on Mount Carmel. The coming together of the Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members in the Holy Land, for the first time, on so propitious an occasion, will give further impetus to the activity that they will be required to sustain.

It is our earnest prayer at the Sacred Threshold that these eighty-one devoted souls will be assisted by grace from on high as they bend their energies to foster the systematic growth of the community worldwide.

With loving Baha’t greetings, The Universal House of Justice

develop, produce and promote books for mass distribution to attract large numbers of new believers; and for creation of strategic reserves to give our community the flexibility to respond promptly to opportunities for significant growth.

Through the devotion and sacrifice of the friends, we are pleased to report that to date $20 million has been received in cash and pledges toward the $60 million goal. As a result, the expenses of the recent renovation of the Louis G. Gregory Baha'i Institute were paid for in cash from the proceeds of the Kingdom Project. The successful completion of thi: much-needed construction and _repaii allows for the speedy progress of the work of the Institute.

New on the Web at www.usbne.org: National Education & Schools News

Updates from the National Education and Schools Office National goals and local lines of action * New materials Wilmette Institute * Scouting awards * More!

page 4 The AMERICAN BanA’i * News/ContinueD

December 12,2000 [Page 5]

BAHA'L COMMUNITY

& © Reinforce external affairs &? activities

+ + Encourage success of the FAR yy Kingdom Project

Strengthen social and economic development

"KINGDOM PROJECT OVERVIEW

“oe B uilding the Kingdom: It’s Our Time,” or the Kingdom Project, is a

five-year comprehensive development plan designed to build on the spiritual foundation laid by ‘Abdu’l-Baha and to “prepare ourselves,” as instructed by the Universal House of Justice, “for ... the hour whose coming it is our task to hasten.”

Successful completion of this effort will ensure restoration and protection of the House of Worship, expansion of the dependencies of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, redesign of the Haziratu’l-Quds, creation of appropriate archives, and fundamental development of the Baha’i-owned schools. It will also continue and expand the media initiative and other national teaching efforts, create strategic reserves to give our community the flexibility to respond promptly to opportunities for significant growth, and begin establishment of an endowment to protect Baha’i properties across the United States.

A minimum of $60 million is required to fulfill these goals.

For more information about the Kingdom Project and how you can contribute:

Web site www.usbnc.org Phone 847-733-3421 E-mail

COMPREHENSIVE

A financial base with a spiritual basis

Reserves, endowment envisioned to meet House of Justice directives

n the continuing effort to attain a new level of maturation in our American Baha’{ community, our National Spiritual Assembly is financially planning for our future in new ways that will give our community the flexibility and stability we need to grow. ‘That's what the Kingdom Project is all about. The two components that most directly address this are the creation of strategic reserves and of an endowment.

Strategic Reserves

Most families try to have cash reserves in the bank so that unexpected problems—such as the family car breaking down and needing repair—don’t become emergencies. A healthy balance in the family checking account also gives the family room to respond to unforeseen opportunities—such as an invitation to go traveling teaching or to send one of the older children on a year of servicethat might otherwise seem impossible.

Our national community needs reserves for the very same r . In the

ities have arisen to foster nt growth in the community or to proclaim the Faith in a powerful and very visible way.

Some of these opportunities have been lost because there simply were not sufficient funds on hand to respond quickly. Once the money was there, the opportunity was not.

There also have been times in the past when our National Spiritual Assembly has been offered a chance to help the Universal House of Justice financially in carrying forward a cherished project or supporting a sister national community. These opportunities are too precious and time-sensitive for us to allow them to be lost for want of financial resources.

It has become extremely clear that it is critical for us to have adequate resources to arise to meet these needs and opportunities as they emerge, both internationally and in our national community.

Therefore, as part of the Kingdom Project, our National Spiritual Assembly is creating strategic reserves to ensure that we can respond quickly when needs and opportunities arise.

Endowment

Virtually all major religious organizations, universities and other charities in the United States have substantial endowments. An endowment is a sign of a healthy, stable nonprofit organization— one that is not existing hand-to-mouth, but is in a strong position to face the future and to grow.

In 1979, the Universal House of Justice wrote, “National Spiritual Assemblies should set aside sums annually in their

budgets for the maintenance of national properties so that when a repair becomes necessary the funds will be available without creating a sudden crisis for the national fund. ... Well maintained and regularly used properties will not only be a means of fostering Baha’i community life, but will add to the prestige and dignity of the Faith in ‘the eyes of the non-Baha’f public.”

Our National Spiritual Assembly is responsible for dozens of properties nationwide, which represent a sacred trust for future generations of Baha’is.

These include such sites as the Wilhelm property in Teaneck, New Jersey, given to the Faith by the Hand of the Cause Roy Wilhelm. During his 1912 visit to America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahé stayed at this home and held a special gathering of believers, which is commemorated every year with the Souvenir Picn:

The Louis G. Gregory Bahs’t Institute in South Carolina also has a spiritual endowment, including gifts from the Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahé Rihfyyih Khinum. Dust from the Shrine of the Bab and the Shrine of Baha'u'llah and rose petals from the Shrines are buried in grounds used as a special garden for prayers and meditation.

It is our responsibility to ensure that these and other properties are cared for wisely and without interruption. The first step is to create an endowment.

A modern kitchen (left) and refurbished dorm spaces (above) are among the finishing touches recently accomplished at the Louis G. Gregory ea idicoae ec

The concept is simple: An amount of money is set aside and invested to produce a steady flow of interest income; that income is used to pay current expenses, leaving the invested sum, or “corpus,” of the endowment untouched.

It will take years to build an endowment capable of fully supporting our property maintenance expenses. Therefore, we must begin the process of building a strong foundation for this endowment immediately.

“Add to the Prestige of the Faith”

As the Baha’f community takes on an increasingly public profile in America, it is essential that we have a strong and healthy financial picture to present to the world. People of significant financial capacity who are investigating the Faith are likely to look at the financial position of our national community as a sign of how vibrant, stable and healthy the Baha’ Faith is in this country.

Having strategic reserves and at least the beginnings of an endowment in place will ensure that we are seen as a respectable and viable _ religious community. This combines with the vital work that will be supported and sustained by these reserves and endowment to make a compelling case for us to at last rise to meet the request of the Universal House of Justice in securing our Faith’s financial stability for the future.

December 12, 2000 Tue American BanA’i ¢ Maturina Communtmies page 5° [Page 6]

“ S ome of us remember the happy beginning of Louhelen Baha’i School in August 1931, when about twenty friends, mostly Baha’is,

came to the farm (then privately owned by Lou and Helen Eggleston) at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston to deepen in the teachings and to let others know about them. The modest plan for a nine day school had been endorsed by Shoghi Effendi and the NSA. It was a real school from the beginning with teachers and students. ... All the classes were held on the cabin porch in the glen. ...

“By the summer of 1933 the school was a definite Baha’i institution under the direction of a program committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly and in more ample accommodations. ... Year by year saw additional buildings to accommodate the increasing number of students. Barns were made into dormitories and assembly rooms. One barn that did not adapt itself to remodeling was conveniently blown down in a tornado. Then the boards and timbers were reassembled into a comfortable assembly room and dormitories. Dining porches were added and the kitchen enlarged (in the farmhouse); washrooms and cottages were built. For a number of years the school was known as The Central States Baha’i School ... but Louhelen has drawn students from all over the country and from other countries so the name was changed. ...”

—from Bahd’i News, September 1947

An architect’s illustration shows the planned view of the exterior of Unity Hall at Louhelen Baha’i School from the east. The new building will adjoin the current main buildings (drawn in lighter at right). Design and image by Gregory Maire Architect Ltd.

New gathering place to enhance Louhelen’s services

BY BARBARA McCORD, EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

he above recollection of the

beginnings of Louhelen Baha’i

School provides a sense of history and perspective as we rejoice in the initiation of construction of a new large assembly hall at Louhelen.

Substantial construction of the facility, to be called Unity Hall, is expected to be under way before Louhe summer 2001 sessions begin. Dedication monies are tentatively planned to cc cide with celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Louhelen’s founding in August 1931.

Unity Hall is one of the first projects brought to life by “Building the Kingdom—It'’s Our Time,” the National Spiritual Assembly's comprehensive development plan.

Funding from this effort, also known as the Kingdom Project, is enabling Unity Hall to proceed rapidly toward serving the needs of a spiritually hungering humanity.

The hall’s flexible space will provide seating for as many as 200-plus people, depending on seating arrangement.

In addition to being a beautiful and spiritually inspiring space visually, it will meet a number of practical needs arising from the rapidly expanding service Louhelen Baha’f School provides.

Within the mandate of the National Spiritual Assembly, Louhelen’s mission encompasses a number of education and training, community development and service functions. They include:

Providing programs, conferences and courses year-round. These highquality sessions put special emphasis on

THE KINGDOM PROJECT IN ACTION: ‘LOUHELEN BAHA’{ SCHOOL

The familiar profile of Louhelen Baha’i School is to be altered in the next year by

2 ray

Unity Hall, a meeting facility for as many as 200 people. file Photo

serving the spiritual education needs of families, youth and children.

Serving as home base for the National Teacher Training Center. This agency develops and facilitates implementation of Core Curriculum and Fundamental Verities programs sponsored by the National Assembly.

Serving as a meeting and conference center for Baha’{ agencies and offices.

Renting its facilities out. Making its facilities available to non-Bahéa’i educational, religious, business and civic groups is a community service as well as a source of supplementary revenue.

Developing education and training

programs. These can gradually become a model to the wider world, and the foundation of a future university program as envisioned by the Guardian.

Serving more people

The popularity of Louhelen programs, its standard of hospitality and service and its lovely setting have generated increasing attendance, now nearly 20,000 a year.

Unfortunately, in far too many instances potential attendees have been turned away or put on waiting lists. Entire programs have been deferred because of too little gathering space.

Currently, programs serving more

than 40 people (if seminar tables are used) or 100 people (if only chairs are used) must be held in the “cafetorium”—Louhelen’s combined dining hall and auditorium in the main building.

This dual use of the cafetorium is disruptive to the spiritual atmosphere of programs, inefficient for school operations, and limiting on the scope and creativity of programs.

When the present facility was built in the early 1980s, budget limits n ed this design compromise. But from the start, the site planning allowed room for a larger, more functional gathering facility to be included eventually.

In a letter of Feb. 22, 1978, the Universal House of Justice exp i vision that Louhelen’s facilitie: be “effective and attractive but simple and unluxurious.”

‘This is exactly the spirit and heart that has inspired the design of the Unity Hall project. We invite you to mark your calendars now for Louhelen programs in summer 2001, and to join us during the coming months as progress on Unity Hall proceeds.

Louhelen will remain in full operation throughout the construction project, and the unforgettable days when the Baha’is and their seekers are together at Louhelen will continue, full of love and spirited fellowship.

Information on youth service at Louhelen appears on page 16. A

page6 THe American BanA’i ¢ Maturinc Communrmies: December 12, 2000 [Page 7]

BY THE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH OFFICE

few people do everything. We are geographically scattered ound a large city. And entry by troops is coming. How can our present circumstances support our future need?

These were the difficult questions 1 by the Spiritual Assembly of the of Portland, Oregon. After two Assembly is on the road to

ind new thinking. Bear in mind: The important thing is not so much what these devoted friends. are doing; it is the way they’re doing it and how they got started.

In the beginning there was the

word ..

At the outset of the Four Year Plan, members of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland sat down with the messages of the Universal House of Justice and studied them—not just once, but several nes, prayerfully and in depth.

They took a retreat, they called in their Auxiliary Board member, and they sked themselves searching que:

shaped by their growing unde

of what the House of Justice them.

And they prayed. “The power of prayer,” an

sembly member writes, “has been

Holy Day gatherings, Feasts and other Bah:

et-togethers in Portland, Oregon,

have benefited from a new approach to community organization and involvement that taps the ideas of more friends than ever before. file photo by Tom Mennillo

munity’s development but to the spiritual growth of each person.

It arrived at a guiding idea: opening the path of service to ever-greater numbers of believers.

Perhaps the chance to serve would knit hearts closer together and gener

“We [Assembly members] ate —_ enthusiasm. amply demon- 3 he Assembly destrated to the are oftenassurprised as cided to test that Assembly over anyone with what happens theory. and over again. The

Ve believe in it.” Some of the

at Feast, and we love that. «+. The result is a joy and

had already divided the sizable commu

specific ways the z nit into Assembly chooses energy that makes it fun to Re ibeenoods to employ that be in one of these Now it created a power: im D new structure: a he first half- gatherings. Community Life hour of every | —Amember of the Spiritual Assembly | Committee, includAssembly of Portland, Oregon ing representatives

de voted to prayer

and deepening, often with an invited Bust, or guests in he same room.

next to the Fund box, and the Assembly s in response to each request submitted in the prayer box.

“Every matter and every difficulty that comes to the Assembly during is

added to its prayer list.

Then there was action he Assembly looked around munity and found a common situation: an established Ass sembly and communi depending on a small core of active believers to do most everything. It made no judgments; history had brought the community to this point. But the Ridvan messages told the Assembly something new was needed.

The Assembly knew from its study that service is key, not only to the com

com

from each of these neighborhoods,

with a mandate to coordinate preparations for Fi and Holy Days. The intention was twofold: 1) open up new arenas of service and participation

and 2) prepare a solid foundation of human resources at the neighborhood

a growing number of believers.

The committee created a rotating schedule for all the neighborhoods, so that each part of the city would hav chance to create a spiritual experience for the whole community.

Now Ba n each neighborhood are invited to a coordinating meeting to plan their scheduled events and to make arrangements to carry out their plans. These meetings, and the success of their events, generate enthusiasm and creativity that are revitalizing community gatherings.

“Baha’is we haven’t seen for some time come to these neighborhood meetings,” a member of the Assembly says. “They

may not come to the Feast at the Center, but they do participate in getting everything ready, and that’s a big victory for everyone.

This approach has taken event planning off the Local Spiritual Assembly's agenda.

“We are often as surprised as anyone with what happens at Feast, and we love ‘ays the Assembly member, who added that the Assembly meets regularly with the committee and trusts it to keep a firm grounding in principle as it encourages the community to express its creativity and diversity.

“The result is a joy and energy that makes it fun to be in one of these gatherings,” the writer say

‘Then came the really audacious part. After consulting about every one of the 400-plus members of the community, the Local Spiritual Assembly invited selected community members to a ting. It gave each member a letter

‘ate a year of

capa $ nervous, a member knowledged. But it was gratified and umbled” by the friends’ response.

“A hundred percent replied that they would serve, and the vast majority of these fulfilled their pledge,” the member wrote. “Some were unsure they could perform the job, but said, ‘If the Assembly thinks I can, then I'll try!”

Other developments followed. With more than 130 adults and youths to count on, Portland today enjoys a tightknit network of committees that guide, support and encourage the friends in nearly every aspect of Baha’s life.

Race unity is a theme that underlies all the efforts of this corps of volunteers, as it does the actions of the Assembly.

“One of the tasks of the Race Unity Committee is to constantly remind the friends of this issue, and to practice it in our daily lives and social interactions,” writes an Assembly member. “This re

Lessons in progress

Te Portland story describes a

work in progress. This Assembly has taken some audacious action and some risks, and is continually evaluating the experiences so it can learn from them.

As the friends interviewed for this ar ticle related their community’s story,

several lessons began to emerge that may call for consideration by other communities across the country. The program details are not so important; there are underlying process steps that should allow different communities, with diverse circum ‘stances, to energize their own

Progress.

Some of these lessons are:

Foster a spiritual environment

through example and disciplined devotional practice.

Use the messages of the institutions to generate new thought and

new guiding ideas.

+ Find innovative practices and new technologies consistent with Baha’i values and the guiding ideas—in this case, some new insights into volunteer management and development—and put them into

» action.

Create new administrative structures that facilitate such action.

Provide detailed service mandates

explicitly grounded in Plan documents.

Create ample opportunity for consultation on results, experiences

and issues, so shared learning oc curs.

Trust the believers, relying on their energy and capacity to attend to the many details a vital community requires.

To share your own story, write to the National Spiritual Assembly, Office of the Secretary, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail development @usbnc.org).

minder has been made by the committee at every Feast for the last two years. unity Che theme of our el

s. Itis ae first theme a in ihe curriculum of our school. It is part of

Encouraging results so far In addition to the new vitality in Fe

st and Holy Day events—and generally in the community—Fund contribu are up.’ The average contribution amount has doubled and the number of contributors has risen by 20 percent.

What about teaching?

“We feel that preparing a community that is attractive is so important to teach

SEE EXPERIMENTS, PAGE 8

December 12, 2000

Tne AMERICAN BanA’i * MATURING COMMUNITIES page 7 [Page 8]

Principles shape an education vision Baha’i ‘reference points’ appear throughout a highly publicized ‘ebook’

BY TOM MENNILLO

B aha’f “reference points” appear throughout a new book on educational reform that is garnering lots of national attention.

The Baha’f perspective is no accident. One author is Dwight W. Allen, a Baha’f and eminent professor of educational reform at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

The attention is to be expected, too. Dr. Allen’s co-author is a one-time student of his at the University of Massachusetts: William H. Cosby Jr., doctor of education, better known as Bill Cosby, beloved entertainer.

The book is American Schools: The $100 Billion Challenge. That’s how much its authors say will have to be spent each year to transform our public schools, and they lay out a 18-point blueprint.

But don’t look for the book in your neighborhood store. It is available only in electronic format, downloadable via the Internet. A paper version is planned for April 2001 or later.

American Schools was born of tragedy. The book honors the “dot-com” style of vision and leadership personified by Cosby’s son, Ennis, a 27-year-old education graduate student who was murdered in January 1997.

In a telephone interview, Allen defined “dot-com leaders” as “people with a spirit of dedication to change, who bring new perspectives and are willing to take risks.”

The same spirit must propel educational reform efforts, the book asserts.

“We need a whole new concept of ed

~ Assembly development tools Free for the downloading:

Spiritual Institutions: The

Unique Nature of Baha’i Institutions

Developing Disctinctive

Baha’i Communities: Assembly reference manual

Assembly Development

Module Workshops participant handouts

Assembly Self Assessment Tool

Assistance for Achieving Goals

Information on Assembly De

“The thing that is very important for us as Baha’is is we have this guidance, and when we use these principles we are on solid ground. It’s

faith in action.” —Dwight Allen

ucational leadership: young (and young in spirit), vigorous léaders who are encouraged to take risks and are given the resources and support to respond to new challenges as they emerge,” reads the opening paragraph of the book’s introduction.

It further explains that we must “encourage these leaders to take risks, because the largest risk of all is maintaining the status quo. Second, we should develop new participatory leadership patterns that involve teachers, students, and parents, and seek active community support.” F

Indeed, the authors deliver a clear message to readers: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Even though mistakes might be costly in the short term, what we learn from them will help reinvent education.

“Education needs a fresh look,” said Allen. “The public schools can be fixed but will require a lot of resources and more than one try.”

Though the Faith is never mentioned in the book, Baha’ principles are ubiquitous: justice, equality of women and men, race unity, diversity, character education, etc.

“The Prosperity of Humankind document came through without any apology,” said Allen. “I use Baha’i reference points all the time now. Baha’i principles are there very intensively.

“The thing that is very important for us as Baha’fs is we have this guidance, and when we use these principles we are on solid ground. It’s faith in action.”

In one specific proposal—a nationwide network of 100 experimental school districts—the book’s authors say the body of students served should be as diverse as possible.

“We want a cross-section of society as a whole,” he said. “Private schools do better because they take only the ‘right’ kind of children. If public schools could pick and choose, they’d do better, too. We don’t serve society when we leave someone out.”

Among the 17 other proposals, the authors call for a well-paid corps of master teachers and master teacher mentors, bolstered training and support staff for educators, longer hours of school operation, continuous evaluation of how schooling programs are working, and use of the Internet and supply of computers to help get all this accomplished.

Allen said he hopes this agenda can be implemented without creation of large bureaucracies. And he noted that each of the proposals can stand on its own.

“If someone is willing to step up to

the

plate and start experimental schools, that can be done independently of the rest of it,” he said.

Cosby’s name has gotten the authors in the door of many national media outlets since the book’s publication. They've done Today on NBC, BET Tonight and National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.

The book was published electronically to “get it out quickly,” Allen said, but he is second-guessing that strategy now.

The “ebook” can be downloaded to personal computers and handheld devices for a small charge from any of several online sources. The process has proved far from painless, though.

“We underestimated how difficult it would be for people to accustom themselves to the format,” Allen said.

Contractually, a paper version cannot be brought out within six months of the Oct. 1 “ebook” launch, he added.

EXPERIMENTS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

ing, as the beloved Guardian said,” another Assembly member comments. “Now the friends are proud of the community. They want to bring their friends to meet their fellow community members.”

A monthly coffeehouse and weekly devotional gatherings provide ample opportunities for these encounters.

So do such regular Center activities as a monthly public talk; a weekly Baha’{ school for children and adults; and daily spiritual, moral and cultural education through mentoring of Hmong children in the afternoons after school.

Regular weekly or biweekly neighborhood gatherings or learning are held in the homes of believers. Youth in the metropolitan hold firesides Wednesday nights and youth workshop sessions Sundays. One junior youth has initiated a monthly pizza and movie night. The youth also have a quarterly conference retreat organized through the Oregon Regional ‘Training Institute.

“The first contact is often through the Internet,” says the Assembly member. “If the community is attractive, then the seekers will come back.”

And come back they do: There have been several new enrollments, the number of seekers is increasing, and the Assembly is confident the pace of growth will accelerate.

Concrete actions are being taken to ensure success: a teaching support committee, created to support individual teaching initiative; training for everyone interested in teaching and presentation skills and in meeting planning; and an expanded library to attend to seeker questions. The local Baha'i C tightly woven into every as ing and development work.

The work of the Local Spiritual AsIf has also changed.

D are off the agenda; thes mainly handled by the committ sembly members act as liaisons with the committees, meeting with them outside of Assembly meeting times, while the full Assembly meets with each committee a couple of times a year for detailed review of plans and progress.

sembly

‘The Assembly now spends much more of its time looking at broader policy issues, mining the Writings and the guidance of the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly for new opportunities to advance the Faith and enhance the lives of Portland's citizens.

Don’t you get tired, members of the Assembly were asked?

“People aren’t burning out, and the Assembly members themselves feel a greater harmony between the different aspects of their lives,” one member replies. “Members of our committees have gotten so close that when we try to assign them to a different committee, sometimes they don’t want to leave the group the served with. thing kind of spiral °

up to a new le

If you have an innovative approach to building community where you live, share it with the National Spiritual Assembly’s Development Task Force, Baha’i National Center, 1233 Central _ St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail

page 8

Tne American BanA’i ¢ MatuRinG Communrties

December 12,2000 [Page 9]

call us

This selection fettients drawn from the vast ocean of the original writings of Bahd'u’ Bahi. It is intended to further enhance the

and bounty that surrounds Baha’ oblij 5'A" x 8", 50 pp.

Baha’i Prayers for Women

Selections from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, the Bab, ‘Abdu’l-Baha and the Greatest Holy Leaf

$14.95 (BPW)

This beautiful gray leather prayer book is exquisitely produced and includes pictures of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and the Greatest Holy Leaf. The

800-999-9019

toll free

A Tribute to Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum

Violette Nakhjavani

$14.95 SC (TABRK)

$24.95 HC (TABRKH) limited edition

This intimate tribute to the beloved wife of Shoghi Effendi and Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahé Ruhiyyih Khanum provides the world with a unique and historic perspective from Khanum’s own close friend and longtime travel companion, Violette Nakhjavani. In her prologue she writes of our beloved Khinum, “We are still too close to her to be able to understand the true value of her services to the Baha’{ world community and still too limited in our grasp of our own history to be able to evaluate the different perspectives afforded by her personality.” Divided into three parts covering her life from Mary Maxwell’s birth to Ruhfyyih Khénum’s final years, this tribute chronicles her earlier life in North America, her years of marriage to Shoghi Effendi, and her services and travels. 5%" x 8A", 182 pp.

Baha’i Wall Calendar $2.95 (BWC)

‘This one-page calendar features a breathtaking view of the Center for the Study of the Texts on Mount Carmel, Perfect for home or office. Denotes all Holy Days and 19 Day

Ox U7P

Baha’i Datebook fe 7

prayers, supp ications an headin;

tations are categorized under such xpectant Mothers, Patience,

158 B.E. ve ene $2.95 (BDB) 3

Husband Nourishment and Prote: and passages from the Kital

ion. The Obligatory Prayers -i-Aqdas regarding exemptions for women are also included.

4" x 6", 152 pp.

Lights of ‘Irfan fie Papers Presented at the ‘Irfan Colloquia and aoe Seminars TrFdn $12.00 (LI)

‘This work represents the latest publication, in English, of papers presented at the 1999 ‘Irfin Colloquia and Seminars for the

purpose of presenting studies firmly grounded in the writings of the Baha’i Faith. Although these 12 papers are scholarly in nature, ne

they are written for presentation, and are therefore highly accessible and engaging. The titles include “Pilgrimage and Religious Identity in the Baha’ Faith,” “Kitab-i-Aqdas as Described and Glorified by Shoghi Effendi,” “Common Teachings in Chinese Culture and the Baha’ Faith” and “‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Explanation of the Teachings of Baha'u'llah.”

814" x 11", 168 pp.

The Logic of the Revelation of St. John Stephen Beebe a $7.95 (LRS}) +

While representing only 2 percent of the entire Bible, the Book of

Revelation has had a disproportionately significant impact on

Western culture. Beebe writes from the position that Revelation is of

divine origin, that it is in great part prophetic, and that its visions sent historical events. This work helps to unravel some of the

that lie hidden in the Book of Revelation and should

sights to anyone who wishes to obtain a more thorough understanding of the

Bible. 514" x BA", 226 pp.

The Advent of Divine Justice ce | Now on CD-ROM

Shoghi Effendi; read by Steve Boergadine = what

$24.50 (ADJCD) !

For those who long for more time to deepen their understanding of the Baha’ teachings, this three-CD set allows an opportunity to listen to this historic letter from the Guardian to the Baha’is of North America in its entirety. Steve Boergadine’s engaging delivery has provided the signature voice of many Fortune 500 companies through a 20-year career in TV and radio. set of 3 CDs

Mastic

This convenient pocket-size calendar, which many of us have come to rely on, helps one keep track of Bahs’f events by overlaying a Bahé’i calendar upon a Gregorian one. Includes the number and name of each Baha’ day anid month. Various nine-pointed star symbols indicate Holy Days, Festivals and Feasts.

3%" x 6%", 15 pp.

Baha’i History Calendar

Dawn of the Century of Light

$7.50 (BHC)

This 14-page calendar features black-and-white photographs of early believers and a quote from ‘Abdu’l-Baha on each page. 11" x 17", 14 pp.

Multifaith Calendar 2001

Water:The Spiritual Fountain

$10.95 (MFC2001)

20 color photographs on the theme of water include a dewdrop on a leaf, a mountain spring, a child’s tear, water gushing from the earth, fountains and children at play. Each page lists and briefly describes holidays from all major religions including the Baha’i Faith.

12" x 18", 17 pp.

Spiritual Assemblies and Baha’i Consultation a

Compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

$5.95 (SABCON)

Focusing on National Assemblies, Local Assemblies and consultation,

this compilation provides an excellent study guide and reference book for the individual or Local Spiritual Assembly.

54" x 84", 96 pp.

ARCHIVE

“The Univeral Flawwnke Tewtbase ‘ithe Hat Watiags

December 12, 2000 Tue AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ BAHA’i DisTRIBUTION SERVICE page 9 [Page 10]

ee

rnd

co

Dreams, Nightmares and Dreams Again Angéla Szepesi $19.95 SC (DNDA)

| Presented here is the amazing story of a life lived in times of great upheaval, for the world and the author, spanning World War II and | formative years of the Baha’{ Faith. Written from an intensely

| personal perspective, this book is presented as such; it does not pretend to be an official statement about the history of the Baha’

» Faith, its institutions, or even the author's family. It is about a teal relationship with her family, God and the Baha’s Faith. Not a smooth pathway, but a journey worth taking and, now through this book, worth observing.

514" x 814", 60 pp.

| Women’s Talk | Florence Conway $7.50 SC (WT)

Florence Conway’ interest in the status and advancement of women. spans many decades. Her experiences of living in a diverse range of

| cultures and her extensive travels have enabled her to closely observe the prevailing conditions and influences on the lives of women throughout the world. Her passion for these issues clearly rings

» through this volume as she encourages women from of all walks of life to arise and, through their deeds, become a catalyst for change.

5S!" x BA", 112 pp.

Cultivating Distinction: Newly Released Assembly Development Modules

These development modules prepared by the Office of Assembly Development at the instruction of the National Spiritual Assembly are designed for “... enabling Assemblies to rise to ‘a new stage in the exercise of their responsibilities.’ ” As with any of the previous Assembly Development Modules, Assemblies are reminded that th in institution, invite other Assemblies in their area to study together, or invite their community to join them in exploring these educational modules.

Baha’i Electoral Practices

An Assembly Development Module Workshop $15.00 (DMPBEP) 10-pack of participant handouts $30.00 (DMFBEP) Facilitator's Guide

Objectives include gaining a broad understanding of the process and practices of Baha'i inderlying these practices, and appreciating the importance of participation in elections

as a sacred responsibility.

The Spiritual Nature of Baha’i Elections An Assembly Development Module Workshop $15.00 (DMPSNBE) 10-pack of participant handouts $30.00 (DMFSNBE) Facilitator’s Guide

Objectives include exploring aspects of “a new state of mind,” identifying ways to prepare oneself throughout the year to perform one’s sacred duty, recognizing qualities to consider and ignore in deciding who to vote for, and heightening one’s appreciation of the significance of Baha’w'llah’s Administrative Order.

lyrics to, will provide joy to those who are familiar — with the melodies as well as those who are hearing them for the first time. Tracks 1-6 contain vocals and music while tracks 7-12 contain music only, thereby a encouraging its use at Baha’f events and

Prayers also include “The Remover of Difficulties.”

A Message to the Indian & Eskimo Baha’is of the Western Hemisphere Amatu’l-Baha Ribiyyih Khdnum

(MINES)

1-49 $3.95SC 50-99 $3.50SC 100+ $3.00 SC

Reprinted with permission from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’{s of Canada by the Native American Baha’i Institute in honor and loving memory of the Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Baha Ruhfyyih Khinum. This is a reprint of Ruhiyyih Khinum’s 1969 message to the Indians of the Western Hemisphere in which she lovingly encouraged the members of indigenous peoples to strive for full partnership in society. This publication includes pictures from the Green Light Expedition, a six-month trip that she led through the Amazon Basin, representing one of her many personal endeavors toward fulfilling her individual teaching goals. The publication’s size and format is most suitable for wide distribution at Baha'i teaching events and other gatherings.

x 6",35 pp.

‘Ahd-i A‘la Zindiganiy-| Hadrat-i Bab The Babi Dispensation / The Life of the Bab Abu'l-Qasim Afnin

$60.00 HC (PLBABH)

This major Persian work, 20 years in the making and enjoying access to original-source and previously unpublished materials, is authored by the last custodian of the House of the Bab in Shiraz. Afndn is also among a small group of individuals in the world who may be regarded as current experts on the life and writings of the Bab. This remarkable work includes numerous photos and facsimiles of original historic documents and Tablets of the Bab, many of which appear for the first time in this publication. Those who are fortunate enough to read Persian will most certainly relish this new and significant publication.

T" x 9/", 672 pp.

The Saddlebag A Fable for Doubters and Seekers Bahiyyib Nakhjavant

$22.00 HC (SBAGH)

“A first novel of astonishing power and originality. ... Inspired by the Holy books of the major religions of the world. h both a thriller and a meditation on the ultimate goal of human existence.” —The Good Book Guide

This review reflects the sentiments of critic after critic for the exciting novel by Bahiyyih Nakhjavnf. Publisher’s Weekly, the primary industry periodical for publishing, states, “The novel’s Baha’s message is beautifully rendered in these tales of multiple paths leading to one destination. ...” Inspired by the story of a stolen saddlebag filled with divinely revealed scriptures, The Saddlebag expands the work of Baha’s artists into the popular genre of religious/spiritual fiction. If you read one novel this year, you will want it to be The Saddlebag.

5!" x 8A", 258 pp.

Consent of Parents freee John F. Skeaff pa $9.00 SC (COPA)

Written to increase the understanding and appreciation of the obligation for Baha’is to obtain parental consent before marriage, this important book not only addresses the law of consent but continues further in drawing together many quotes from the sacred Baha’ writings as well as a wide range of insights from leaders of thought on the subject of marriage and family. A most useful tool for couples seeking parental consent, parents considering issues of consent and institutions assisting individuals.

54" x 8/4", 60 pp.

Her Eternal Crown

Queen Marie of Romania and the Baha’ Faith

Della L. Marcus

$24.95 SC (HEC)

“Tf ever the name of Baha'u'llah or ‘Abdu’l-Baha comes to your attention, do not put their writings from you. Search out their Books, and let their glorious, peace-bringing, love-creating words and lessons sink into your hearts as they have into mine.” —Marie, Queen of Romania

Her Eternal Crown is the compelling story of Queen Marie and her association with the Baha’i Faith, told through her letters and diary entries, and oh the letters and articles of her teacher, Martha Root.

5's" x 84", 324 pp.

page 10 THe American BanA’l ¢ BanA’i DistRiBUTION SERVICE December 12, 2000 [Page 11]phy that can |

A Special Opportunity for a Most ‘Special Issue of “World Order’

scripts, literary n, history and biograj apprecia 0 Other World Order highlights include “Religious Pluralism: 1 Baha’ Perspective” by Julio Savi

10" x7", 48 pp.

New Video Offer Provides Yet Another Opportunity

to Support Our Baha’i

Distribution Service has reduced the price of all nationally broadcast Baha’f

videos to only $9.95 each! In addition, we have repackaged the entire set of six videos, which includes the newest release, La Fe Bahd’t—Latinos in the, Bahd’t Faith, and all video support literature, for only $48.00. _ Whether isolated believers, in small Baha’{ groups or in metro Baha’i communities, many friends are finding new, creative ways to use these videos. Some are loaning them to seekers. Others are using them to supplement firesides. In so doing they each lend their share of support to this portion of our National Teaching Plan which represents great progress in conveying a Baha’f message ever-more “suited to the capacity of those who hear it.”

6-Video Set of the U.S. Baha’i Media Initiative $48.00 (BMI)

We Are One $9.95 (EWAON)

This video explores the effect of Baha’u'lléh’s extraordinary teachings of oneness on ordinary rural people. It opens with Dan Seals and his son Jesse using the guitar as an analogy to gently introduce principles of unity in diversity. Jesus the Christ is mentioned a number of times with great reverence. Throughout his series of poignant interviews with Baha’ friends, Dan combines a spiritual compassion with his music and insightful lyrics.

28 minutes 30 seconds

1Am a Baha’i

$9.95 (EIABN)

A diverse range of everyday people describe, in their own words, their spiritual fulfillment as members of the Baha'i Faith as well as the impact their religion has had on their lives. The Baha'is interviewed range from single mothers, to mid-level career women and men, to young and old families. They discuss such issues as parenting, professional aspirations, interracial understanding, service to others and the power of the independent investigation of truth as elements of faith.

oO o help maximize the potential of these effective teaching aids, the Baha’f

28 minutes

National Media Initiative!

The Power of Race Unity 5

$9.95 (EPRUBN)

This video represents our first national foray into proclaiming the Baha’i

_ Faith through the use of mass media. A broad cross-section of Baha’fs each share their thoughts, views and personal strategies related to the most vital and challenging issue facing America today.

26 minutes

The Power of Prayer $9.95 (EPOPN)

A series of personal and highly accessible profiles introduces the

viewer to Baha’is from diverse backgrounds and regions of the country and explores how they use prayer in their lives to meet challenges and create unity. Intermixed with basic Baha’i principles and statistics, The Power of Prayer is a great introduction to basic concepts of the Baha’i Faith.

~ 28 minutes 30 seconds 4

La ES Baha’i—Latinos in the Baha’i Faith

$9.95 (ELBFN)

‘This introductory video is the first to focus on Baha'is of Hispanic descent. Filmed in English, it shows Latino friends sharing their thoughts and impressions on being a Baha’. ‘This inspiring, heartfelt video is suitable for seekers of any background.

28 minutes 30 seconds (in English)

Family: Seeds of World Peace

$9.95 (EFSWPN)

Profiles three families who apply the teachings of the Baha’f Faith to their family lives. Each reveals how practicing the principles of gender equality, striving to serve humanity, and extending the concept of family beyond one’s home have provided a living example to the children while strengthening family and community bonds. An effective introduction to the basic concepts of the Baha’f Faith.

28 minutes 30 seconds

NAME AS IT APPEARS ON CREDIT CARD

‘

i SHIETS. CODE TITLE QUANTITY | COST EACH | TOTAL '

i

'

! DAYTIME TELEPHONE #( —)

'

{ BILLTO

'

TOT,

' UNITED STATES: ADD 10% (MIN. $4.00, MAX. $10.00) SUBTOTAL ' CANADA: ADD 15% (MIN. $4.00) SHIPPING '

INTERNATIONAL: ADD 40% (MIN. $5.00,VIA AIR MAIL ONLY) SALESTAX 1 CREDIT CARD # __ SALES TAX: SHIPMENTS TO GEORGIA ADDRESSES APPLY

' APPROPRIATE SALES TAX TOTAL | EXP DATE SIGNATURE __

'

‘

December 12, 2000

[Page 12]sometime

MATERIAL MEANS

"Ge COMMUNITIE S Many individual decisions

This article is the fourth in a series con taining excerpts from the Codification of the Law of Huqdqu’ll4h. It was prepared

with reference to the compilation on

Uf the offering be but single grain it is regarded

3. Husband and wife are free to decide whether they want to honor their Huqiiqu'lléh obligations jointly or individually.

HUQUQU’LLAH

THE RIGHT OF GOD

Payments to Huqdqu’llah should be made to “The Baha’i Huqdqu’ll4h Trust” (please write your Baha’i identification number on your check) and.

Huqdqu’llah, which is available from the 4. The account of Huqiqu’llih should F BRC ee Service. as the crowning glory f be Lene carats ‘Geni Sahee contribu- sent ep once of che Trustee g all the harvests of the tions on of the Amin Banani, Among principles expressed in previous ” ) funds of the Huqiqu’lléh is subject to issues: The Huqdiqu’llah (Right of God), ore ti decision by the Central Authority in the eben 9x 310-394-6167,

established in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, is to be offered joyfully and without hesitation.

Cause to which all must turn, whereas the purposes of the contributions to

Stephen Birkland,

When offered in this spirit it will impart We be determined by the 7 prosperity and protection to the friends, Now on the eb! donors themselves. pore! Se iecae purify their worldly possessions, and Access wwew.usbne.org with your Bai ID number 5. Payment of the Hugqtiqu’llih has « gally'100, enable them and their offspring to bene- aod dick on “Huqdqu’llsh: The Right of God” Priority over ma aking contributions to fit from the fruits of their endeavors. Compilation « Prayers « Codification other Funds of the Fai phone J fax 609-671-0740 Articles © The Institution * For Children _the cost of pilgrimage. I e-mail Huqaqu’ll4h is to be calculated first in a to the discretion of the bel + Daryush Haghighi, person’s lifetime as a percentage of that “necessary” and therefore deductible in _ or not to treat contributions to the Fund person’s wealth, and later as the same computing the annual accretion to sav- as an expense when arriving at the value aon htc person’s wealth increases by specific and which furnishings of the of his or her property in calculating the belied Marin) PO: Box 178. amounts (after needful expenses). household are to be regarded as “need- sum due to be paid as Huqtiqu’lléh. Winnsboro, SC 29180. t Residence, needful furnishings and busi- _ ful” and therefore exempt from the pay- phone | fax 803-635-9982 ness/agricultural assets do not need to ment of Huqtqu’lléh. Next issue: Additional notes, including onal be counted in this calculation. Some 2. Although references are made to applicability of the Law of Huqdqu’llah. details were shared in the Nov. 4 issue of annual payments of Huqtqu’lléh, the " The American Bahda’f; here are more. time and method of payment are left to Videotapes on HuqGqu’llah in English Meucunnce Basi the discretion of the individual believer. and Persian are available for a reduced (phone C. Further notes on determining There is, therefore, no obligation to liq- _ price of $12. Please contact Badiyan \ fax 440-333-6938, Huqtqu’lléh: uidate on ‘s in haste in order to Productions, ‘email ). 1. It is left to the individual to decide fulfill one’s current obligations to (phone which expenses are to be regarded as Huquiqu’lléh. , e-mail ).

Charitable Gift Annuities

THE BAHA’{ FUNDS

Advantages of giving stock that has grown in value

ext to gifts of cash, the simplest way to contribute

to the National Baha’{ Fund is a gift of securities that have appreciated, or grown in value, since you bought them. This method also might have extra tax benefits.

Here is how it works: A Baha’f donor transfers ownership of securities (publicly traded stock, mutual funds, Treasury bills and/or bonds) to the National Spiritual Assembly, which immediately sells them and sends the proceeds to the National Baha’ Fund, or to other Baha’f funds if that is the donor's wish, hope and desire.

How could this benefit you? If your securities have increased in value since you purchased them, selling the securities would result in capital gains taxes on the difference between the selling price and the price you originally paid for them. But if you have held those securities for at least a year and a day, and made a gift of them to the Baha’f Fund ad of selling them:

No sales transaction would mean no capital gains tax

owed on those securities.

You could claim an income-tax deduction equal to

the market value of the securities at the time of the donation.

Remember, you as the donor would receive these benefits only i transferring ownership of the se ties before they are sold.

It is also possible to establish a ch by transferring appreciated secur’

itable gift annuity

SEE STOCK, PAGE 29

now offered by our National Spiritual Assembly as a gift-planning option A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you, as the donor, and our National Spiritual Assembly—providing advantages for both.

Under a charitable gift annuity: Benefits:

A donor irrevocably transfers funds to our —* ‘Guaranteed fixed payments for life, a por

National Spiritual Assembly, which are in- tion of which are non-taxable.

vested with other annuity funds. + A charitable income tax deduction for a Regular quarterly payments are made to portion of the gift in the year in which the you, the donor, for your lifetime. annuity is established.

+ The remainder of the anouity fund is trans- + Reduced capital gains taxes if funded with ferred to the Bahi'i Fund after your an appreciated asset passing, + Increased support of the Babi Fund.

Examples (based on a $10,000 annuity):

Age 60: Charitable deduction $3,782.30; annual lifetime annuity $660 Age 70: Charitable deduction $4,261.20; annual lifetime annuity $750 Age 80: Charitable deduction $4,907.40; annual lifetime annuity $920

Requirements: —- P

+ Must be at least 60 years of age to enter into an annuity agreement with our Na © Hust establish the annuity with a. minimum of $10,000.

+ Must imevocably transfer the funds.

+ Will receive a lifetime annuity payment.

Not yet licensed in Arkansas, California, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin

This eight-page

The National Spiritual Assembly's Gift and

brochure from the Estate Planning Program Office of the Treasurer has been estab- — * Providing for the Baha’i Faith

contains some Baha’i lished to help in your will teachings and practi- believers make a — * Making a gift of securities cal advice on: variety of finan- * Making a gift of real estate

Importance and cial arrange- — * Making a gift through life

advantages of a ments for them- insurance

will selves, their — Receiving income from your gift:

Five steps to cre- families andthe — * Charitable Gift Annuities

ating a successful Baha’i Faith: | * Charitable Remainder Trusts

will

Checklist for preparing a will
Burial instructions
Bequests to the Baha’i Faith

Individual copies may be requested free. There is a nominal charge for ordering brochures in quantity.

To order The Writing of a Will or to find out more

about the gift and estate planning program:

Phone 847-733-3466 / e-mail

Or, fill out the form with the Baha’i Funds envelope

attached to this paper.

page 12

Tue American BanA’i ¢ MATURING CommuNmTIES

December 12, 2000 [Page 13]

TRUE WEALTH

“O SON OF MY HANDMAID!

Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by poverty. Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, ‘In truth ye are the poor,’ and the holy words, ‘God is the all-possessing,’ shall even as the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth.”

—Baha’ ei fromm the Persian

Campus Clubs: Potent forces of light

BY DAVID BIKMAN, OFFICE OF YOUTH AFFAIRS

ith each passing year, as the proce: of social change delineated by the Guardian

continue to unfold, opportuni for E college students to capitalize on the energies released by these changes

increase in number and depth.

Baha’i students and clubs are becoming increasingly respected, consulted and admired by students and facult a few campuses in America, Bi recognized as the most active, in trustworthy and potent forces of light.

Baha'i students in general are realizing the power of organization, publicity and network-building. Two years ago, in moment of crisis for our brothers and si ters in Iran, we realized our potential to mobilize at the national level. Before that, during the calm night of our relative ity, we had worked confidently and

ration of goodwill, dependability and trustworthiness.

Our time to make our mark

No longer content to watch others communicate the gems enshrined in the Baha'i writings to their peers and mentors, the sons and daughters of the ’60s generation are finally coming into their own.

In every region of the country, the vision for Baha'i college clubs seems to be expanding from a simple group of people

who infrequently gather for various functions to a body of devoted souls, inspired by the teachings of Baha’u'llih, who work matically to exert a powerful and positive influence on American soci Individu nd clubs engage a wide variety of i n equally wide variety of ways, from individual teaching efforts to large proclamation

events to direct social action, conferences, _ petitions and letter-writ ing campaigns. Through the unique instrument of the college club, Ba dents are able to direct

their collective energie: toward well-defined go lish the good name of the Faith among their peers, build unity among themselves, reach a greater number of people than ible, and take on ever-more tion. Race unity, gen

der equality, a ronment, human right and moral development are all challenging subjects that have been explored by Baha’t students in public forums.

The potential of a college club rests primarily on the individual believers who live, work and study on America’s campuses. It is up to them to come together, establish

- \s ,

themselves as a unified body, identify their goals and map out the lines of action needed to achieve them, and energetically fol

A variety of visions

‘The vision of each campus club will be different, depending on resources, experience and environment. In any case, every Baha'i on _ campus will no doubt strive to be audacious, systematic, spiritual

and jonary. Keep in mind that its not necessary for your club to be numerically large to be effective. In two short years, just four

students at the University of North Carolina at Asheville succeeded in making their club one of the most respected and active organizations on campus (see Baha'i Newsreel, January 1998, for a profile).

Through judicious use of prayer, study, consultation, action and reflection, Baha’f students will inevitably achieve great deeds for the Faith of Baha'u'llah. At all times and with the utmost love, the resources and experience of the Office of Youth Affairs remain at the disposal of all those willing to lend their hand to this national effor.@ *

INTIMIDGEED aTED

by the thought of serving the Faith outside the United States?

How about getting some practice:

BY HEATHER L. JENSEN

any young Baha’fs are intimidated by the prospect of traveling abroad for service, especially to a country with an unfamiliar language and culture.

I had decided several years ago to serve for one year in Turkey, though I did not speak a word of Turkish or even understand the basic structure of ‘Turkish society. I felt that by going there without this knowledge, I would be more of a hindrance than a help to the friends—so I decided to live in ‘Turkey as an exchange student my senior year of high school, before performing a year of service.

This decision reaped enormous benefits! Not only did I become familiar with the Turkish language and culture, but I was able to do lots of teaching. As an exchange student, I lived with a host family and was required to attend school. I stood out as a foreigner, and everyone was curious about my life in America.

Be an exchange student!

By the end of the year, every student at school and all the faculty members knew of the Baha’i Faith. My host family respected the teachings of the Faith so much that they began teaching the Faith themselves, even calling local newspapers and television stations. ‘Thanks to their enthusiasm, a regional newspaper with more than 5 million readers interviewed me and wrote an article about the Faith as its headline story.

After my year as an exchange student was over, I was fully prepared to dedicate an additional year solely to teaching the Faith in Turkey. I can honestly say my previous experience in Turkey made me an infinitely more successful teacher. It has also made me a more well-rounded and worldly person.

I strongly recommend that Baha’{ youth contemplating service abroad consider first going as an exchange student, whenever possible. The longterm benefits are truly remarkable!

A photo from Heather Jensen’s sojourn as an exchange student in Turkey shows her host family, relatives and friends.

“busing the Far Yaak Plant about 180 youths from the United States

participated abroad in the Baha’i Youth Service Corps.

The Baha’i Youth Service Corps is a program

phone 847-733-3499 through which you can serve the Faith full time e-mail

for periods of time from three months to a year or two, in the United States or abroad.

Opportunities: page 24

December 12, 2000 Tue American BanA’i ¢ Yourn page 13 : [Page 14]INC

One

“Lap

° +, GOAL: INTENSIFY DEVELOP MENT OF SPIRITUALLY © DISTINGTIVE FAMILIES S anv connunimies

Foster love, happiness and

pis devotion

Insure children and junior

youth acquire spiritual virtues and are free of prejudice

Foster devotional life of individuals and community

[THORNTON BAHA\ sui

"ate fall and another in.the spring, at which time the parents attend | the full Sunday class with the chil

Our recent research indicates that the most active Baha’i communities are those with children. The following story, the second in an ongoing series on local spiritual education efforts, is a wonderful illustration of how a fairly large community, by current Baha’i standards, is enriched by striving to promote the spiritual growth of its children. Children, by their very existence, bring vibrancy to that community. How much more vibrant the community that fully engages

its children into the fabric and function?

—Nancy Davis, National Education and Schools Coordinator

Santa Monica peers into future

Established Baha’i school is systematized, ready for continued growth

Second of a four-part series on local Baba’t school initiatives

BY BARBARA McCORD, EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

66

ust because you are children

$ not mean you cannot serve nd teach it, by your d by the way you let at you are better and more intelligent than most other children.” —From a letter dated March 16, 1952, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Monica

8

Children’s quoted in Education: Compilation, p. 71

“The spiritual education of children and junior youth is of paramount —importance to the further progress of the community. It is therefore imperative that this deficiency be remedied. Institutes must be certain to include in their programmes the training of teachers of children’s classes, who can make their services available to local communities. But although providing spiritual and academic education for children is essential, this represents only a part of what must go into developing their characters and shaping their personalities.”. —Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 157 B.E. letter

A source of pride

“Although we do not know how many children were in the first Santa Monica Baha’ School classes back in the 1950s or who their teachers were, we always point proudly to the existence of a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi dated March 16, 1952, addressed to the Santa Monica Children’s Class,” said Sheila Banani, Spiritual Assembly secretary, Core Curriculum trainer, teacher resource person and “general energy source” for a thriving Baha’{ School in Santa Monica, California.

It certainly seems to be an understatement to say that the Santa Monica Baha’i community is actively engaged in the operation of its Baha’i School,

which for years met in homes but more recently has been meeting in rented space at a community center Bad will be

Center once it is renovated. Although the history points

continuous operation wa: until Amin 2

“he local school was developed for the spiritual education of its children

Sele in a class of 3- to 5-year-olds at the Thornton Chase Baha’i School in Santa Monica, California, proudly pose with the Greatest Name.

and was named the Thornton Chase Baha’i School several years ago in honor of the first American Baha’i, who is buried in a neighboring community.

It is working very hard to live up to such a name.

Operations in the past few years have been refined, with a division of labor into co-directors, teacher resource people and teachers.

First, let’s eat

‘The weekly sessions of the school run from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m.

‘They begin with a breakfast provided by one of the co-directors.

Classes begin at 10:10 a.m., with a short break in the middle of the classes.

The breakfast allows children and parents to converse and eat together for up to 20 minutes.

“It's usually simple fare: bagels, fruits, a cookie, juice and tea,” said Parvin Bakhtian, one of the co-directors. Her two girls have attended the school for the past 12 years and one is now a teacher.

“The breakfast time provides good

community time and allows us to start together,” she said.

“It's good that we have the snacks first,” said Shirin Enayati, a recent graduate of UCLA in her second year of teaching. “It gives the parents a little leeway for arriving on tim that we can immediately begin at 10:10 and get right to work and stay foc

The time together also provid window of time to ensure that all are taken care of, for teachers to either visit with each other or review lastminute questio!

“Often we different stories, compare approaches and learn from each other during those times,” Enayati added.

“We used to have a in the middle of the cl but I'm glad that we do it in the beginning now, for it is not as dis” said Larry

re

ruptive, Hanser.

An industrial psychologist who became a Baha'i in 1991, Hanser has been teaching the 13- to 15-year-olds on and off since then.

“Tt must have been either the first or second Feast when they asked me to attend ‘just attend one meeting,” he said with an understanding smile.

Curriculum choices

When Core Curriculum became available, some of the teacher resource people took the teacher training, then returned to Santa Monica to train their local Baha’i School teachers.

One of the co-directors, Parviz Derakhshanian, attended four sessions of Core Curriculum training a few years ago in Los Angeles.

“This way I know and understand the process, but the responsibility for curriculum presentation is with the teachers, supported by the teacher resource persons, of whom we have three,” said Derakhshanian.

Another resource person, Anne Sadeghpour, also helps provide the books, lesson plans, stories and other

SEE SANTA MONICA, PAGE 15

Tne AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ SrinruaL DistiNcTiON

December 1|2, 2000 [Page 15]

SANTA MONICA,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

resources peric

“These written resourc teaching of the teachers—thi young people who are continuing to

about the Faith through service,”

Some of the curriculum in use besides Core Curriculum and Ruhi Institute ma s are Brilliant Star magazine and even some books from the 1950s prepared by the National Committee.

hing

Contract with the parents “We made a contract with the parents inning of the year,” said Hoda cond-year college student s in youth workshop and her college’s Baha’s club.

“We send homework home with the ts each week and want the parsignatures on them. We

to the students of the qui

that they can help the students

Ivance.

nt this to be fun as well, so we system and provide

sto tts ihe for how well they

‘The teachers involve other adults in ays, often as invited guests.

ve many people who have incredible skills and have gi many ways in our community able to come from time to time and tell ies, etc.,” said Viva Tomlin, one of the three teacher resource people.

So what are the rewards of such continuous labor?

ys great to be able to do service, and serving the schools is a great

service. Besides, one of my daughters now is a teacher and we are able to serve together. It’s nice,” said Parvin Bakhtian.

“My non-Baha’s friends say, ‘You have such nice ” But I know that I didn’t do anything extra than all those other well-meaning parents. Without the Faith and the children’s classes to support them as they grew, they would be just like other kids, I’m sure,” said Bakhtian.

“So I tell my non-Baha’s friends: “The Baha’ children who attend classes have

SNAPSHOT,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Attend an orientation session for the

Core Curriculum teacher training to understand what the teachers need to know.

Handle any problems that may arise,

such as calling parents should there be a recurring problem.

Teacher resource people The three teacher resource people are responsible for learning processes :

Students, teachers and administrators of the Thornton Chase Baha’i School gather for a group photograph.

Santa Monica, California, fast facts

Population: 90,000; Baha’i community: 170 adults, 20 youths, 50 children.
Baha'i school: established in 1954, regular sessions operating since 1970; three co-directors, three teacher resource

people, nine teachers, 17 youths, 50 children.

School location: in neighboring park; rent $45/week; one class still being held in home.

School schedule: Sundays 9:45-11:45 a.m., September through June; begins with 20-minute breakfast.

School structure: Each class has two or three age groups with graduation each year for those going on to the next level.

School curriculum: Core Curriculum used as the foundation with materials from other curriculum programs in use.

School finances: $40 tuition for each child paid at beginning of year; Spiritual Assembly pays rent, covers much of the

training costs, purchases Brilliant Star magazines and other materials and covers costs above those of tuition receipts.

National statistics: survey response from Baha’i communities nationwide

Most communities band together to provide instruction

for children. Only 15% of all communities (and 26% of those that sponsor education classes) say they provide °

education independently.

Atleast three-fourths of Baha’i children and youth live in

communities that sponsor Baha’ classes for children.

Communities with children tend to have higher partici

pation rates.

totally different values from those in the world around them. I’m so glad that my children have learned about sacrifice, and know so much about the Faith,’” said Bakhtian.

“The most rewarding thing for me is that many of my students are now teachers in the Ba chool,” Hanser said. ion is the highest form of compliment, it makes me feel I've been able to be a part of a positive effort.”

Connection with community

which provide a me:

service to the greater community,” said ‘Tomlin. “As an example, the junior youth helped around Naw-Riiz with multicultural programming using story circles ata public primary school.”

Select and implement the curriculum

and relay information gleaned from the Core Curriculum list-server. Maintain direct connection with the regional training institute and participate in an evolving schedule of training (Core Curriculum, Ruhi and other methods) and the recruitment of other teachers for additional training.

Be able to call upon past experience with curriculum and teaching process. Recruit, train, develop and retain teachers.

Accumulate, provide and organize all

a process, that of of

The majority of Baha’i children (60%) live in smaller

communities with fewer than 50 members. More than half of Local Spiritual Assemblies sponsor

Baha’i education classes for children and youth. A vari ety of curriculum formats are used for the instruction children and youth, with almost half (47%) of communities that sponsor education Said they use the Core

Curriculum materials.

Looking forward

“We're getting a ne

Derakhshanian. “We've hired an archi tect and are going to receive the plan in

December. We certainly want to proY good setup for the children.”

“T think having a place like the Baha'i Center where we can build a library will be very helpful. Iv'll also giv place to display their artwork,” Hanser added.

Conclusion

One recogni ic development that has ta lace here, that the school has now broken through to a new level.

It is no longer operating “on the edge,” reactive to emergencies and crisis, but id has become a “well-oiled machine,” able to anticipate challenges

written support materials.

Observe teachers in the classroom on

an intermittent basis.

Hold classes for the teachers periodically, constantly passing along materials and meeting with teachers upon

demand.

Find and share new and interesting

ideas.

Teachers The nine teachers, working in groups of two or three (except for the oldest group, for which there is one experienced adult), are responsible for every and operating at a high level of productivity.

One of the wonderful products of this level of operation is that service and, hence, human resources are not primarily used in the process of establishing, fixing or repairing—stages that require great effort often with little reward.

Instead, they can step back and refine, support and reap the fruits of their labors, the result of a systematized childdevelopment-centered community.

Imagine what it will be like when they can begin to operate out of their new Baha’{ Center, without having to carry everything to the park and back home each Sunday.

This is a very real goal. And it looks like it won’t be long before the Santa Monica Baha'i community makes it happen.

thing else:

Receive Core Curriculum training and

continuous updates.

Often serve first as an assistant by

helping prepare the necessary materi als for the class and teachers.

Develop lesson plans as a team when ever possible.

Maintain loving order in the class room.

Give homework, tests and feedback to

the students and parents.

Report to the team and directors

when unable to attend.

Give lots of love every session.

December 12, 2000 Tue American BanA’i ¢ SpiniruaL Distinction

page 15 [Page 16]ron

ewTSTIVE

Khanunrs letter: Spreading a gift of love for the indigenous

aha’{s have long recognized the value of a loving and purposeful letter. So it is a source of loving pride that the board of directors of the Native American Baha’i Institute in Houck, Arizona, recently completed a task, related to a letter, that brought them aralleled joy and was closely aligned with the goals e ‘Twelve Month Plan. The M: rch 16, 1969, ng by pa Or eal

of the West! em ena t communicated to the ft of love. And now, with the addition of fine graphic producaan and design, the message is adorned with photos of her famous Green igh Expedition to South America.

A Canadian Indian elder was heard to say that “the soft, sweet and enduring grap! ¢ presentation of the cover itself, and the way the message is presented, is befitting the long-overdue dignity due the indigenous peoples of this hemisphere.”

‘The letter is also available as a CD recording, with a reading by Juana Conrad, deputy secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, American Indian flute by Kevin Lacke, a Lakota and member of the Auxiliary Board for Propagation.

‘The Native American Baha’i Institute (NABI) is mandated, among other things, to systematically develop human resources to meet the teaching, community development and administrative needs of the Faith in American Indian communities. This work requires the use of basic texts and materials designed to serve the needs of indigenous peoples.

For years the singularly “best” choice available to assist traveling teachers has been this 1969 message from Riihiyyih Khanum. But copies of the original printing, published in Canada, were rare and often well-worn. Many people, including NABI trainers, relied on photocopies.

As is often the case with spiritually guided efforts, a number of happenings in close succession led to the development of this teaching tool.

In November 1999, Kiser Barnes, then a Counselor member of the International Teaching Center (now a

E the Western Hemispl sib ean

This booklet can be purchased through the Baha’i

Distribution Service (please see page 10).

Those who would like to assist the work of NABI

by buying copies to be given as gifts to indigenous

people are encouraged to do so. Each copy costs

$3.95. However, $175 would pay for 50 books,

should anyone wish to be so generous.

If this is your desire, kindly send your checks to

the attention of: NABI, 830 Barnet hates Roa P.O. Box 316) AZ,

ray

eat

Universal House of Justice member), made a remarkable four-day visit to NABI. Among other things, he encouraged the Institute to collect and print stories of the Faith and local community members, and to develop and adapt materials suitable to its training mission.

‘Then in January, news traveled around the world of the passing of Rihfyyih Khanum, perhaps the Faith’s greatest champion of teaching among indigenous peoples in recent memory. Years earlier she had visited Navajo and Hopi reservations in the region served by NABI.

ing the need, seeing the absence of suitable materials, understanding Ruhiyyih Khinum’s great love for the Indian peoples, and having the capacity to develop widespread use of this m in a systematic and effective way, the NABI board of directo ught permission to reprint and distribute this m

“Such a product is a fitting tri one who had served this obje Bathke, co-director of NABI. “We we: and the board membe:

completing this project would serve her added, “It would help to make her continued assis tance in this vital teaching work even more productive from the next world. And we knew what a joy that, too, would bring to her soul.”

ACD version, in particular, was seen as useful among people whose reading abi nited—or who simply prefer to learn by listening, especially among peoples of strong oral traditions and storytelling.

The message itself could be described as a very sweet love letter. The loving tone, coupled with Ruhiyyi Khanum’s direct manner and authoritative use of prior correspondence, especially from the letters of Shoghi Effendi, make this message inviting to ri

The first portion reasserts the nobility and high station of the Western Hemisphere’s native peoples, and

directed their love, their heron and an invitation to accept Bahd’u’llih’s message and recognize this New Day. The next portion repeats segments of messages from the Guardian, affirming and reaffirming the great destiny of these peoples.

In the last portion, Rihfyyih Khanum encourages these believers to arise and fulfill their true destiny, carrying this message throughout the world. She assures them they have the skill and talent to do this.

Despite its title, this message is clearly meant for all indigenous peoples, and would make a very suitable gift to every such person. It is also a great model for all Baha’fs to follow when teaching our Cause to anyone, and is worthy of careful study.

WW WITTE OE

Lessons from service

ouhelen Baha’i School has an active

Youth Service Corps program that enables youth from all parts of the United States and from overseas to serve the Cause directly. It enables youth to “make their mark” on the current Plans of the Faith, and is an important part of developing its human resources. This letter was written by a Youth Service Corps participant from Germany. Youth Service Corps posts are available at Louhelen. If interested in applying, please contact Louhelen (phone 810653-5033, e-mail ).

“Dear Friend, Allah-u-Abha! “My name is Mariam, and I am from Germany. Currently, I am serving at

Louhelen Baha’f School in Michigan as a member of the Youth Service Corps team. You may be curious about what service at a national Baha’ school is like. “Tam 23 years old, and I declared my belief in Baha’u’lléh in March, back in Germany. All my Baha’i friends there told me about their years of service. I felt gloomy that, because I was already in the middle of my college studies, I would never have the chance to enjoy the same experience. Not to have given service while still a youth, and to give thereby all my enthusiasm and strength to the Faith during that early part of my life, seemed to me to be a great deprivation. “T think that it was fate when, this past summer, I forgot to register in time for important exams in July, which resulted in a semester off from my course of studies. I came to the realization that the time off from school would allow me an opportunity to provide service! Although I lived in Germany, I knew about Louhelen because my best friend’s mother had traveled to the U.S. to attend a Core Curriculum course there. “Serving at Louhelen involves hard work and fun. I serve in the Hospitality Department—our group prepares meals and cleans all of the facilities. The first few days were really exhausting—it took me a

while to get used to the physical labor. But it’s a lot of fun working in the Hospitality Department, because most of the service youth work in that department.

“Working at Louhelen as a youth means giving up some freedoms. We cannot spend our time just as we want. We (and the guests) have a curfew during overnight sessions. We have a daily work schedule to follow and must be punctual. There are many policies we must obey. At first, I followed these out of compliance, but now I can see the wisdom in the school’s standards and policies—it has been a good lesson that will last my entire life. T’ve learned that the new World Order will be built only if we wholeheartedly trust and obey our institutions.

“As a newly declared Baha’i, I feel that serving at Louhelen has been a great gift—it has allowed me to focus, and there are many opportunities here to deepen. When I am not working, I am welcome to attend Baha’ sessions at the school. Every week, I meet with my mentor for a special deepening session— these are very important to me and I

Nura Mowzoun helps keep the bookstore displays in order as part of her term of service at Louhelen Baha’ School. Photo by Jim Cheek

enjoy them a lot. Also, the youth gather weekly at the home of Louhelen’s administrators for a deepening program.

“Although I am halfway through my three months of service, I already have a better idea of what it means to be a Baha'i and to serve the Cause. I love being surrounded by Baha’fs all the time, and being part of the atmosphere of spirituality and service at Louhelen. I hope that you, too, will someday share in this experience.”

Complete list of upcoming Louhelen programs, back page

page 16 THe Amenican BanA‘i ¢ Srigmuap Distincnon

+ December 12,2000... . [Page 17]

T he Kingdom Project helps us to take care of important buildings like the Baha’i House of Worship. Look at-the picture of Liang helping the Temple Conservation Team. The Team is trimming bad concrete from the garden walls, so that new concrete beams can be built to support -& new deck near the stairs. Out in the gardens, they had just built a new ramp so people in wheelchairs can take a full tour around the Temple

e gardens. The Temple is being Do you have something repaired so more people can enjoy it and so it

to SHARE with can be in good shape for BRILLIANT STAR, like now and for the future! KO» PHOTOgraphs, stories, >K

poems, or DRAWings?

We invite everyone to send in for aK the upcoming themes:

Art and the Creative Spirit

Health and Healing Shoghi Effendi

,

For subscriptions to

BRILLIANT STAR, CG Ea wm eu eT ad} -o bald eh Avy by OF ofthe Reairer or see page 25 to mail it in. Directi ns. er tons: Brilliant Star is hiring Study this picture for 60 seconds. Then turn to page 29 and see how many questions you can answer.

new editors. See page 28

J

December f2, 200° ‘ “Trie' AMERICAN BAnA'l’* BRICLIANT STAR Kin’S Cone — page 17 [Page 18-19]

BS

OURAN <2

Excerpts from the

Balydzi Memorial Le

in Baha’ eet and tween authorized int individual opinion.

“Baha'u'llah Himself d thi i tinction by authenticating His Te Writings. The concept of the Center

Covenant rests on this foundation, and obedience to that Covenant ensures a against any ambiguity of interpretation that would undermine the unity of the — Baha’i community.

“The very structure of Baha'i administration has been raised upon this delicate equilibrium between respect for institu. tional authority on the one hand and freedom of expression on the other. It is an equilibrium which depends on facts to administer justice and on individual view to encourage initiative.

“And it should be remembered these individual points of view,

all intents and purposes, relative tional’ in comparison with the — authoritative interpretations of the Fai F “Indeed, recognizing the difference between fact and fiction is part of our

ourselves and each in

“Depending on the time, on the

other ‘wrong’ but rather how to distinguish between and the real, between vain essential verities. oe “The oneness of religion, | depends on our ability to original truths at the heart. from the priest-prompted in that have divided them, tod facts about religious truth fr

only yield its best when it purpose the truth of facts at tl differing and sometimes clashing ¢

tions.” @

ABS conference examines the forces ‘Writing the Future’

n opportunity to examine the cenA“ past and century ahead in light

of Baha’u’llih’s revelation drew about 1,200 people to Toronto, Ontario, over Labor Day weekend for the 24th annual conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies~North America.

“A Century of Light: Who Is Writing the Future?” was the theme, with the Baha’f International Community's document Who is Writing the Future? Reflections on the Twentieth Century its point of reference.

Attendees included Universal House of Justice member ‘Ali Nakhjavini and Vio

Right: ‘Ali Nakhjavani (center) and his wife, Violette Nakhjavani, observe a session at the Conference of the Association for

jaha’i Studies. Both addressed the conference, and Mrs. Nahkjavani provided a particularly stirring finale with her speech in tribute to the life and services of Amatu’l-Baha RaGhiyyih Khanum.

Right: Christopher Rouse and Sharee Jaecock were among those whose music set a spiritual tone for the conference.

Eom iis

lette Nakhjavini; Counselor Jacqueline Left Hand Bull; members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Canada, the United States, ka and Greenland; and people from as far away as Japan, Russia, Israel, Zambia and New Zealand. An unpre dented number of youth also enthusiastically participated.

The conference, marking the Association’s 25th anniversary, was dedicated to the memory of Amatu’l-Bahé Rihiyyih Khanum. Her extraordinary life was celebrated through vignettes combining slides and dramatic readings from her own words, as well as by a deeply moving talk

by Violette Nakhjavi conference to an inspiring conclusion.

A variety of sessions was on tap for conference participants, beginning with nine Special Interest Group programs and continuing with plenary sessions that addressed such themes as the equality of women and men, human rights and the needs of children, the maturation of humanity, new paradigms of justice, black women’s leadership, and the vision of world unity in 20th century literature.

Simultaneous breakout s« ons, workshops, and panels explored a wide variety of topics from literary artistry in the

ini that brought the

Baha’i writings to the implications of globalism. The Association for Baha’i Studies in Persian held an afternoon session, and dive! pects of Baha’f Studies were explored at a symposium on scholarship.

One of the conference’s memorable moments occurred at Friday evening’s plenary session, when the moderator, Harold Rosen of Vancouver, British Columbia, introduced himself thus: “Yesterday was my last day as a Unitarian minister. Today is my first day as a Baha’s.” The audience responded with thunderous applause of welcome.

Above: Mentoring by youth was in evidence at the children’s sessions of the conference.

Left: A junior youth session dealing with gender equality issues had light moments, but impressed onlookers with the earnestness of the discussion.

The annual Hasan M. Balydzf Memorial Lecture was delivered by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani on “Fact and Fiction: Interrelationships between History and Imagination.”

John S. Hatcher delivered the keynote address, “The Spiritual Nature of Reality: Is the Future Already Written?”

The arts were abundantly represented through poetry and drama readings, music from opera to contemporary styles and even a full-length original feature film.

The conference reflected the Association for Baha’{ Studies’ continuing efforts to foster a community of learning character

ized by spiritual upliftment, inclusiveness and diversity.

Some first-time attendees, worried that they are not “scholars,” became inspired by the possibilities of making their own contributions to Baha’ scholarship and finding creative ways of applying the Revelation of Baha'u'llah to the critical problems of humanity.

Others appreciated the diversity of the content, the participatory nature of many of the sessions, the integration of the arts, and the inclusion of narrative and creative forms in the program—a recognition that Baha’i scholarship includes the arts. @

Storytelling session illuminates indigenous links with Baha’ teachings |

he conference's commitment to diversity was epitomized by a remarkable indige: nous storytelling session. With chairs set in the traditional circle, Mark Wedge, a member of the Tagish First Nation (Yukon) and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, began by burning sage in the center, a traditional way to “clear the air” for a meet. Wedge likened this bdu’l-Bahé telling Baha'is to prepare for the Feast by cleansing our

While many stories were woven in and out of the session, the main story was “Keedu ‘T’ei Kaa: The Man Behind the Dam, A Story on the Covenant.”

Wedge began by saying that according to Shoghi Effendi, a small handful of people will recognize the teachings and principles of the Baha’ Faith, while the majority of the world is waiting for these to be used in a practical manner. In the native culture, they

Mark Wedge relates jinbols on an embroidered vest to the role of the Baha’i Faith in presentday indigenous life.

are taught to apply things that are learned and try to live out visions.

Wedge had brought a vest that had an embroidered figure of a beaver on the back. He pointed out that this was not a regular beaver in that it had six legs, two tails, and one head. The figure relates to a story about a message from the Spirit World that “before long, people will come and bring two things. Do not touch them. However, when the animal with nine legs comes, everyone can eat from that. That's OK.”

When the Europeans came, he explained, they brought the two things that should not be touched: materialism and alcohol. When the Baha’is came to visit, they brought the nine-legged animal, like the nine-pointed star.

“Keedu T’ei Kaa” is a story about the man that sits behind the dam to protect it. Beavers fed this man willows first thing in

SEE STORYTELLING, PAGE 23

SUHENL BUSHRUI treated attendees to the vision

SUSANNE TAMAS of Canada presented an overview of the document Who Is Writing the Future?

Ben ee focused on three assertions, id were the main th writings: Reality is

nas said the awak ning of new ca pacities in humanity has given rise to material and technological progress, but without spiritual balance we witness an erosion of values.

“The cult of individualism and personal satisfaction” has undermined the spiritual reality that “every human being is born a trust of the whole and collective rights intertwine,” she said, citing the social dislocation of children and their alienation by parents and other adults as “the hallmark of a society in decline.”

le: Child of the Seventh Generation.”

A Lakota woman from South Dakota, Left Hand Bull noted that indigenous peoples may not exhibit scholarship in a purely academic sense, but bring a “perspective study of insights which are of interest of others.” Even so, she cautioned her audience about the dangers of romanticizing this life.

Poverty and infant mortality reflect a level of neglect of some social essentials on native reservations, the Counselor said, Referring to statements on children in the most recent Ridvan Letter, she appealed to Baha’fs to be involved in and support services that will help native women and children.

In a symposium on scholarship, she presented a paper on “Baha’{ Scholarship from the Perspective of Native Culture.”

Baha’s principles transcend culture, she said, but their application does not. Indigenous peoples place “the spiritual recognition that we belong together” at the center of their personal and social lives, not economic factors or laws.

Such things are not written down, the Counselor noted. Much writing about native people has been done by nonnative observers, mainly priests and anthropologists.

For Baha’ scholarship to uphold its spiritual foundation and be truly universal, she said, it may not always be wellserved by the usual standards of “academic objectivity”; we have to allow for the different ways of expression (whether a university approach or a culture-based expression).

She added that the product of scholarship should be tactful and not divisive, and based on fundamental verities.

But we cannot let prejudices either of or about culture affect us, Left Hand Bull said. She told a story from her own experience, where it turned out that a native belief that had come to be accepted as traditional had in fact been introduced by priests trying to discourage traditional cultural practices.

of world unity in 20th-century literature and the role of the poet. *

“Our duty is not to be cowardly,” said Bushrui, holder of the Baha’{ Chair at the Unive: Maryland, but to be “brave and fearlessly speak the truth—for the truth will prevail, no matter what.”

Also, in a roundtable discussion on Persian and Arabic translation, Bushrui drew attention to the sublime literary quality of the Baha’ sacred writings in their original Arabic and Persian. That discussion also featured featured John Hatcher and Amrollah Hemmat describing their collaboration in ongoing translation of 40 of Tahirih’s poems from Persian into English. Shahrokh Monjazeb talked about the levels of complexity of the sacred and authoritative Baha’i writings, and Brian Miller, who has been working an English translation of Baha’u’llah’s “Ode of the Dove,” emphasized the importance of the need for the translator to adopt a spiritual attitude of humility.

“page 18

Tne ‘American BanA’i ¢ BanA’i Stupies Conrerence

December 12, 2000

_and include all the people of the world. “ ‘This shows that we will ultimately suc Writing the Future states, that to which we allude and for

December 12, 2000 Tue American BanA’i * BanA’i Stupies ConrerReNGE, . . page 19

[Page 20]NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

WATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

Involve individuals,

& communities and institutions —_

e4R ae initiative among youth

+ Make training institutes fully operational

Look at what’

allows you to insert local information, print

Teaching project report NG Let us know about your success!

Reaching out through your local library

Awareness of others’ needs can help us spread teachings through displays

BY PATTY CARLETON

have been asked by Baha’fs in other

parts of the country about how to get public libraries to allow Baha’i exhibits.

I have a few suggestions.

Most libraries have meeting room use and display policies. Ask to see them. If they have a Web site, the policies may be posted.

Since most libraries are government agencies, they usually shy away from displays that appear to promote a particular viewpoint, especially a religious one. But they may be interested in a display that is informational.

I am_a public librarian in Missouri. I

A sense of balance

Librarians strive for balance in programs and displays. Sometimes they want absolute balance—all religions represented at the same time. Sometimes they define balance as “all viewpoints are represented eventually over time.”

Since in the United States we make all sorts of denominational distinctions, the Faith usually has one turn or piece, while Christian denominations take up lots of room. Such is life right now. It won't always be that way.

If your community has an interfaith organization, being part of a display prepared by that organization may be a way to get the Faith mentioned.

Library displays are usually used to

promote the library collection and programs. Find a tie-in.

‘That may mean donating enough books to make a really good display. Or including books (owned by the library) that are not published by Baha’is but express our principles. There are lots of excellent picture books, for example, that promote race unity, cultural appreciation ete.

Sensitivity on donations

If you donate books, keep in mind that most libraries have guidelines for donations—they won’t automatically add donated items to their collections. Again, they are striving for balance, as well as dealing with limited space.

You will have to demonstrate a demand. Books that get donated should be checked out regularly or they will be withdrawn, even if they are in excellent condition.

Space for displays is at a premium. Offering a display, no matter how well-developed, is sometimes not practical.

Ask if your display can be included on the calendar for sometime in the future. Or sponsor a contest (posters, essays or art) and arrange to have the winners displayed.

Three-dimensional Displays need to be of high quality. They should not look “homemade.” They should include three-dimensional

“stuff’—not just words, paper and books.

Collections make great displays. Do you have a former pioneer who has been somewhere interesting and brought back a collection of some kind, or artifacts of the culture? That might be accepted for display.

The only mention of the Faith would probably be on the acknowledgements card: i.e. “Mary Smith lived in Zimbabwe from 1996-1999 as a Baha’{ pioneer. She generously loaned us the masks and drums for display this month.”

Then you might be able to have Mary Smith offer a public program about her experiences.

We had a successful Naw-Riiz display, put together by a Persian family. It included information on how Persians (Muslim and Baha’f) celebrate the holiday and the traditional items displayed in Persian homes during the holiday.

The bottom line is this: You have to look at displays from the library’s perspective. How does your display serve their needs and work within their constraints?

Good luck. Pray a lot. Keep asking. Avoid being adversarial or confrontational. Make friends with the librarian and library staff. You will succeed in teaching the Faith. @

Patty Carleton is associate director of Youth Services and Family Literacy at the St. Louis Public Library.

Training courses created to help us follow up on contacts

egional training institutes, in col laboration with the National Spiritual Assembly and the National Teaching Committee, are developing courses to provide training on aspects of the national media campaign such as responding to seekers and seeker followup.

The courses are being made available for downloading on the Internet, so that local institutions, institutes or deepening committees may facilitate a broader understanding of the media campaign and its role in teaching and consolidation in the Baha’{ community.

‘The Amatu’l-Bahé Réhiyyih Khénum Regional Training Institute (formerly the Atlanta Area RTI) has developed a course, “Supporting Our National Media Campaign,” to focus attention on preparing for seekers, and providing a unific atmosphere for seeker follow-up. ‘The course, available as a downloadable file on www.usbnc.org, is intended to be delivered to your community by a trained institute facilitator.

For more information on the course contact the Amatu’l-Bahé Rithfyyih Khinum RTI (phone 770-389-4264, email )

The Aguila del Cielo Regional Training Institute, serving Central Texas, also has developed a course for training the friends on seeker follow-up from the national media campaign (which includes local media initiatives). The course was developed on information gathered from the NTC report “Issues Pertaining to Growth, Retention and Consolidation in the United States.”

‘Topics include: ¢ The first encounter.

The needs that seekers define for

‘No call will go unanswered’

themselves.

Lessons in attracting seekers.

Burdening a listener is a wasteful exercise.

People are attracted to things that are

positive.

Strike a chord in the heart of the listener.

The course is designed to be offered by a training institute facilitator. For more information, please contact the Aguila RTI (phone 512-990-0201, email ).¢

page 20 THe AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ NATIONAL: TEACHING PLAN

December 12, 2000 [Page 21]

ARISING TO TRAVEL FOR THE FAITH

L.A. to Bulgaria: unforgettable

BY RANDOLPH DOBBS FROM THE LOS ANGELES BAHA'I JOURNAL

he traveling youth teachers to Bulhave returned to Los Angeles a brought with them tales of triumph with a few touches of sadness.

When the 16-member team returned to Los Angele end, they felt as if they had been gone much longer than just 30 days. “It was an exhausting tri id one Baha'i youth, “but I’m so glad I went!”

From Sofia, the capital, to Varna on ra Zagora and hing in the historic city of Plovdiv, the Baha’i youth were warmly welcomed by the Bulgarian people.

As with last year’s successful tour, Bula media hit—in fact, this year the media pursued the Baha'i

Perhaps a more important accomplishment was one of unity. In the four weeks they spent touring Bulgaria with a dance program billed as the One World Dance Company, the team managed to plan, rehearse and perform with a sister Baha’{ dance group from Sofia they had never met before, and do it all in a loving unity that created bonds of true Baha’f friendship. i

Glowing articles praised the group in national newspapers and magazines. ‘Taped presentations were aired on popular television; members were interviewed on top radio programs. Audiences raved over the performances and their uplifting message, and seeker response at follow-up firesides was tremendous.

Even through severe tests, the young teachers found ways to put Baha’{_principles into practice. In Sofia late one night, two Baha’i youths—one white, one black—encountered four men who shouted racial insults and menaced the pair. The white Baha’{ youth stepped in

Top: The stage presentation of the youth workshop in Bulgaria was enthusiastically received in several cities. Center: The idea of “street teaching” at times took on new meaning. Photos courtesy of Los Angeles Baha'i Journal

and diverted the men’s wrath, receiving a beating without resistance—but allowing his friend some time to find help.

Later, the youth who had intervened for his partner said he felt good about his quick decision, convinced he had saved his friend from the prospect of an even worse fate. The two young Baha’is bonded even closer that night as brothers in service to the Ancient Beauty.

Other, less-dramatic tests came to the traveling te: ers. Dance performances in record-breaking temperatures drained the youths’ energy. As the group traveled at night to save the expense of lodging, “highway robbery” was nearly redefined as bus operators allowed greed to overcome honesty. Accommodations often had to be negotiated and renegotiated when proprietors wanted to charge more or offer less. :

‘Through it all, the Baha’i youth (both American and Bulgarian) demonstrated their resolve and dedication. With constant prayer, frequent deepenings and plenty of consultation they overcame every kind of challenge.

But the very best part was the unity between the Bulgarian and American Baha’fs. Not in every way, of course, but in many ways—the Bulgaria 2000 Traveling Teacher Project worked in a way the Faith was meant to work: sacrificing in gratitude serving with pleasure, teaching with joy.

The below goals and opportunities have been designated or reviewed by agencies of the Regional Baha’i Councils.

Southern States

‘The Regional Council has placed top priority for homefront pioneering on cities with populations of 50,000 or more and no Local Spiritual Assembly in March 2000.

Arkansas: fort Smith, Pine Bluff

+ Florida: Daytona Beach, Hialeab, Palm Beach

Georgia: Albany

+ Kentucky: Owensboro + Louisiana: Bossier City, Kenner, Lake Gharles, Honroe

North Carolina: Gastonia
Oklahoma: Broken Arrow

+ South Carolina: North Charleston + Tennessee: Jackson

Texas: Baytown, Beaumont, Galveston,

San Angelo + Virginia: Danville, lynchburg, Portsmouth, Suffolk + West Virginia: Huntington Please contact the Southern Regional Traveling Teaching and Homefront Pioneering Coordinators listed at right.

Western States

The Regional Baha'i Council has put emphasis on Assembly goals in the seven “breath of life” states designated by ‘Abdu'lBahé in the Tablets of the Divine Plan: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, ‘Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Goal localities include the following (complete list on www.usbne.org). For

communities on Indian

reservations (marked with *),

contact the American Indian regional traveling teachinghomefront pioneering coordinator listed at right.

+ Arizona: Apache Junction, Bapchale District*, Buckeye, Chino Valley, Goodyear, Kingman, Houck Chapter*, Surprise, Tolleson

Idaho: Ada Co, Fort Hall Indian

Reservation", Kootenai Co, Heridian

Montana: Blackfeet Indian Reservation",

row Agency, Flathead County, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Lewis and Clark Co., Northern Cheyenne Reservation*, St. Ignatius, Yellowstone County; Assembly communities seeking support: Billings, Bozeman, Butte-Silver Bow, Missoula County, Ravalli County

+ Nevada: Boulder City, Churchill Co, Lyon (o,, Pahrump, Winchester

New Mexico: Artesia, Deming, Grants, Jicarila Apache Reservaton*, Los Lunas, Lovington, Luna Co., Mountainair,

Rio Arriba Co, Shiprock Chapter*, Socorro Utah: Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, La Yerkin, Layton, Midvale, Ogden, Roy, UintahOuray"; Assembly community seeking support: West Valley City Wyoming: Casper, (od, illete, Laramie County, Newcastle, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Weston County, Wind River Reservaton*; ‘Assembly communities seeking support: Cheyenne, Laramie Colorado: 11 goal communities, including jeopardized Assembles in Lafayette, Manitou Springs

California: 42 goal commenites, indding jeopardized Assembly in Sierra Madre Oregon: 19 goa! communities Washington: 40 goal communities; eopardied Assembly in Washougal

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

The Office of Pioneering is cager to assist the

jonal service. For

friends preparing for interns information regarding jobs and study abroad,

ternational

ori

aveling teaching opportuni ties and other events, please contact the Office of Pion Baha'i National Center, anston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail » Answers to frequent questions about serving

internationally are posted on the Web

(www.usbne.or Departments). See page 25 to report an international trip.

HOMEFRONT SERVICE

Detailed information to help those who wish to travel and teach or pioneer within the 48 contiguous states is available on the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org), in the Regional Baha’i Councils section.

Northeastern States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, contact the Northeast Regional Baha’s secretary, Joel Nizin (phone

i )s

To inquire about traveling teaching, comact

Coun

the traveling teaching coordinator, Diana Rouse Kaufman (phone ,e-mail

Dy

Central States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioner, contact the Central Regional Baha’s Council secretary, Lynn Wieties (phone

,e-mail ). To inquire about traveling teaching, contact the appropriate state traveling teaching coordinator (list is available on www.usbne.org in the Regional Councils section) or contact Marilyn Ray (phone y e-mail

) Western States To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer or about traveling teaching, contact the appropriate traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator for each state (list available on www.usbne.org in the R

gional Councils section), or one of the regional coordinators: ‘Traveling teaching: Jan Saced, (phone ,e-mail ). Homefront pioneering: Flor ‘Toloui,

e-mail » For information on American Indian reservations, contact the American Indian

(phone

regional traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator, Helen Kiely, (phone , e-mail ).

Southern States To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, please contact regional coordinating team member Susan Crossley (phone

, e-mail )

‘To inquire about traveling teaching, please contact regional coordinating team member Kitty Schmitz (phone 5 e-mail )¢

December 12,2000 = THe AMERICAN, BanAjsi,e Nationa TeaGinG PLAN — -page 21 [Page 22]

TRAINING

"NATIONADL* TEACHING’ PLAN

INSTITUTES

Plans for ‘Spiritual Foundations’

Program} with its first cadre of four-y

graduates, didn’t just happen. It too! lot of hard work and living on the edge. Now the institute’s board is looking ahead and finding ways to duplicate its suces

Devlegent of the individual and creation of strong Baha’i marriages and families are the major themes for the 2001 Spiritual Foundations program. The summer session will be held July 28-Aug. 11 in the Wilmette, Illinois, area.

This year’s thematic cluster, first offered by the Wilmette Institute in 1997, is one of four main emphases for the Spiritual Foundations program.

The other three themes, which rotate year-to-year, are: on and theology, the focus of the work completed in 2000. opment and governance of

al,

ellectual and spiritual dime individual development and virtues; the institution of marriage; and a look at parenthood, child-rearing and family life. Other topics covered during the two weeks will be exciting historical classes

Teles}

Anes AKO aera

Distance Learning: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf; course on Judaism

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, Jan. 15-April 15, 2001

In response to the National Spiritual Assembly's request that American Baha le to the Son of the Wolf during the first six months of 2001, the Wilmette Institute has a planned a course Bahé’u'lléh’s last major work. stle to the Son of the Wolf recaps many of the main themes in His writin: restates His claim to be God’s Manifesta

All courses include e-mail listservers for students and faculty, regular conference calls, systematic lesson plans. and a wide variety of learning projects to apply in your local community.

All courses are available at an introductory, intermediate (collegelevel) or advanced (graduate) level. Financial aid is available.

Students from this year’s Wilmette Institute “Spiritual Foundations” program pose after completion of the two-week summer session. Photo by Manuchehr Derakhshani

on the Baha’f Heroic Age (1863-1921), Baha’f writings on personal transformation, creative writing and research skills, and learning how to take action as an effective teacher of the Faith. Tuition $700, with lodging and meals extra.

Many forms of presentation and learning will be employed: lectures, discussion, group work and a focus on the arts, service, prayer and community building among the students. Of course, a significant amount of reading is reed and students can decide ahead of time if they want to take the class for a grade or pass/fail.

One course in the summer session,

“Individual Development and Ci of Baha’f Marriages and Fai scheduled to be taught by Michael who has just moved back to the United tates from Switzerland, where he had ight at Landegg Academy. He is excited about this class and looks forward to this summer. @

While the four-year Spiritual Foundations program is the Wilmette Institute’s original and most thorough learning experience, it also conducts distance learning classes year-round. See highlights below. —

tion for this day, and serves as a compilation of some of His most important statements, ’u'llih re-revealed many passages to illustrate the breadth and depth of His revelation. The recipient was an arch-enemy of the Faith who helped his father bring about the deaths of two prominent believers and who instigated the 1903 persecutions of the Baha'is of Yazd. Students will read the entire book and be provided with descriptions and commentaries.

Judaism for Deepening and Dialogue, Feb. 1-April 30, 2001

‘This course will review the history of the Jews, the history of composition of the Old Testament, the main teachings of Judaism, and points of similarity and difference between Judaism as currently understood by Jews and the Baha'i h. Baha’is will be encouraged to established ndships with Jews and Jewish communities in their area.

THE WiLmerte Institute 536 Sheridan Road Wilmette, IL 60091

Phone/fax: 877-WILMETTE (toll-free) E-mail: Web site: www.wilmetteinstitute.org The Web site is secure for accepting credit card payment of tuition.

Still open: The Qur’én Registration is still open through the end oH December (if space is available)

‘ 1 and will run through Feb. 28, 2001. The Qur’in is the divine revelation on which Islam is based.

‘The Baha'i sacred writings are filled with quotations from it and allusions to it, and many words used by the Bab, Bahda’u’lléh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahé have qur’dnic resonances.

Shoghi Effendi urged Baha'is to study it

“They must ... approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur’én which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Babi and Baha’i Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God.” —The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 49.

‘The course examine the entire text of the Qur’in and Islamic and

Baha'i commen on meaning. Technical terms will be explained in order to make the text accessible to

those who do not know Arabic.

Future course: Rediscovering the Dawn-Breakers: The Bab and the Babi Faith, 1844-63, scheduled to begin March 1. @

REGIONAL TRAINING

INSTITUTE CONTACTS

Southern States Regional contact: Susan Nossa * Training institutes: Aguila del Cielo (eatral Texas * Amatu’l-Bah4 RGhiyyih Khanum Abbama, Georgia *

Crimson Ark ¢, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia ©

Greater Houston * Jubilee Teonessee and Arkansas * Magdalene Carney florida, Lousiana, Mississippi *

Mathew Kaszab South Teas * North Texas *

Oklahoma +

Sam McClellan Keotucky *

South Carolina +

Supreme Talisman Netth Carolina *

Central States Regional contact: Council secretary * e-mail Training institutes: Chicago * Dorothy Baker Ohio * Gateway Missouri * lowa * Kansas + Metro Milwaukee * Minnesota +

Western States Regional contact: Council secretary * e-mail Training institutes: Arizona * Columbine Colorado * California Northeast * California Northwest + California South * IMWW Western Washington * Native American Baha'i Institute * Nevada South + Oregon + Rio Grande +

Northeastern States Regional contact: Chet Makoski + email Training institutes: Doris McKay Rochester, NY *

Roy Wilhelm Northern New Jersey *

Sadie Oglesby Boston * Thornton Chase Connnecticut River Valley *

William Sears fasten Peonsyivania *

More on regional training institutes at www.usbnc.org

Access the Administrative Web

Site with your Baha’i 1D number,

click on “Regional Councils,”

then link to the Web site

for the Council in your region of _ the country!

page 22. Tne AMERICAN BanA’i * NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

December 12, 2000 [Page 23]

Interest groups help develop perspectives

he official conference opening was ded by a full day of Special These brought ionals

together other intereste ir new perspectiv ‘The SIGs, as they are Agriculture: A “talking circle” on “Who is Writing the Future of Agriculture?” allowed participants to share their experience as farmers, consumers, or workers in agriculture and related industries. They also shared thoughts on the future of agriculture and the role Baha’is can play in shaping it. Baha’i Institute for the Arts: Baha’

expression—visual arts to poetry to drama to short-story writing—from

unique perspectives. Consultation and Conflict

A panel on the differences,

tion and conflict n. It was followed by discu: the SIG’s involvement with the Baha'i Justice Society.

Education: Participants looked at how the oneness of humanity principle has been incorporated into Baha’{ curriculum and practice during the past century in North America, and how we can effectively move this principle from religion to science and into the public arena of education and curriculum.

Environment: Members of the International Environment Forum (IEF) and interested others met for a workshop on environmental attitudes. Issues included rights and obligations, sustainable agricultural practices, consumerism and materialism, pesticide use, and other topics related to environmental problems. There was also discussion of the foundations for ecological attitudes that are contained in the Baha’i writings.

Racial Unity/Intercultural Issues: A

Ladjamaya Green Mahoney leads a “guided meditation” and discussion on what it means to be a Baha’i and an artist, and the need to perfect one’s gifts and talents, during a Baha’i Institute for the Arts session.

case study on formation and development of the Unity Institute of Illinois Inc. was the fo The Institute was formed in Springfield, Illinois, to begin the development of the first generation of children and youth free from racial, ethnic and cultural prejudice.

‘The Study of Religion: The program began with a discussion of the implications for the study of religion found in the statement Who is Writing the Future? Four papers on the history and literature of the Baha’ Faith followed.

Science and Religion: A diverse array of presentations viewed the harmony of science and religion from the bases of indigenous perspectives, the spiritual reality of evolution, the world of phy and other viewpoints. One presentation reported on a movement to gain recognition for Baha'i studies in North American universities.

Women and Gender Issues: In a session drawing heavily on Baha’i writings, topics included women’s body image and social pressures on women as objects; barriers women face in the sciences; and pressures young women face as they move from childhood into adolescence.

STORYTELLING,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

the spring. This symbolized the reinforcement of the dam.

The beaver had two tails and six legs, which meant that it was very strong. In fact, this symbol, he said, was used for training in conflict resolution.

In the culture, they are taught that tests and difficulties should be faced with joy, and that tests have sacred teachings to be learned, and that they will go away once we learn from them.

The water is like the spirit world, he said. It’s life all around us. Whatever comes out of the water, then, should be examined and learned from.

The beaver comes out of the water. Wedge explained that the two tails of

the beaver stand for a strong foundation: The Bab and Bahé’u’llah, upon whom everything rests.

‘The head of the beaver is like ‘Abdu’lBaha, the Center of the Covenant, the example that we should emulate. The head goes first, and the rest of the body follows.

The nine appendages on this animal correspond to the number of Baha. They are like the nine people on a Spiritual Assembly who counsel and help the community. The nine-legged animal, Wedge feels, signifies the Baha’{ institutions.

The Covenant, he said, is our lifeblood. Likewise, if the man behind the dam falls, it will mean death to us. You have to feed itand sustain it. This feeding is likened to the Fund and the belief that we should never take from creation without giving something back.

As with many Baha’i conferences on this scale, the bookstore area was not only a marketplace but a discovery zone and social center.

GWENDOLYN ETTER: ern Michigan Univers in relation to the conf Etter-Lewis challenged Bah:

contributions.

women in extended fami

there.

one to participate.

LEWIS, professor of English at Westry, examined the role of black ence theme.

specially Americans, to be aware of the invisibility and neglect of black women’s

She gave a concise history of black women in leadership and at the forefront of many inventions and innovati and noted that the now-familiar African proverb that takes a village to raise a child” was a reality lived by black

She also pointed out some little-known but significant contributions black women made to the Baha’{ world community in the Faith’s first century.

Barry Srvart, chief judge in the Territorial Court of the Yukon, spoke on “New Paradigms of Justice.”

In a warm, open, engaging and participatory style, Stuart presented paradigms of justice that closely parallel the Baha’i ideal. Indeed, he complimented the Baha'is of the Yukon on the significant contribution they are making

described a view of justice driven by feelings and spirituality and based on the principles that humans are spiritual beings, that civilization is spiritual, that we are on the cusp of a unified world and that we must create opportunities for every

it

Participants convey glowing recollections

he impressions of Marvin “Doc”

Holladay, renowned jazz musician and educator, help distill the conference experience of participants.

“I didn’t see the whole thing by any means, but the sessions I did attend were excellent in presentation and content,” he related. “As always in these conferences, there is never enough free social time to sit and communicate with old friends, though some of us do it anyhow but always at the sacrifice of something that we would want to attend.

“The presence of the Nakhjavani family added greatly to the excitement of the conference,” he recalled. “Bahiyyih [Nakhjavanj] has a remarkable talent for dramatic reading and her ability to invoke characteristic linguistic mannerisms with ease and immediacy I found delightful. She should be an actress.

“In general, the atmosphere was very similar to that which we enjoyed so much at the World Congress in 1992. The level of maturation and excellence of

scholarship was outstanding and devoid of the usual old-world pomposity that so pervades those scholarly gatherings.” Other attendees had similar thoughts. ¢ “I think that the conference will go down in history as one of the great ones. That ineffable thing, the ‘spirit’ of the conference, was good. The venue allowed for socializing without disruption to the conference sessions, the devotions were inspiring and uplifting (and inclusive!) and the incorporation of the arts throughout was well done.” “I really enjoyed the non-Baha’i speakers, for they grounded us to the needs of the world we live in and challenged us to apply the principles.” “Tam not an academic, yet I understood a lot (although not all) of what was expressed in lectures and workshops. The caliber of the learning is so distinct, so high, so humble, so impressive. All was an inspiration for me to evaluate my ‘own space in the community and what I will do to ‘write in the future.’” #

December 12, 2000

Tue American Band’ ¢ Ban

|A’i Srupies CONFERENCE _— page 23 [Page 24]

INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I YOUTH SERVICE CORPS OPPORTUNITIES

pportunities listed here are from

Baha’ institutions all over the world (primary languages are in parentheses). More service opportunities, compiled by the Baha’i World Center, are available through the Office of Pioneering or your Auxiliary Board member.

AFRICA

Botswana (Tswana, barts Long-Term “ other _ projects.

nglish): John Roaching Project and Details available.

Cameroon (French): Youth service organizer to help mobilize youth and further organize the youth service pro

1 Secretariat. Kena

Youth knowledgeable

ers, photography and writing,

Help in training offi puter and other b

couragement from the Continental Pigos omc’ ons

Isonegal (Fre ae Pro. ject near Dakar 1 needs F peaking: youth to help with teaching, children’s classes, activities for women and for youth. Abilities in drama welcome. Swaziland (Nguni, Swazi, English): Assistance at school in Mbabane. Tanzania glish, Swahili): Assist the Local ‘Teaching and Training Nucleus in Dar es Salaam; work with moral education project in Tanzanian schools; other teaching projects. Zambia (Bemba, Nyanja, English): Teaching and social and economic development work through the WM Masetlha Foundation. “Thirty self-supporting youth would not be too many for the teaching projects.”

AMERICAS

Alaska (English, indigenous languages): Several teaching projects plus summer Alcan youth institute programs. Bermuda (English): Youth needed to help with

Tr; enthusiastic services of Baha'i youth are needed all over the world. Contribute your experience through the hands-on pioneering work in another

culture. Learn how to:

Reach new kinds of people with the message of Baha’u’llah.
Help children, youth and adults learn how to be active teachers and builders of

the Cause.

ee eee

while studying overseas.

Support the administrative work of Baha’ institutions.

Promote social and economic development.

Proclaim the Faith through the arts, and let it spread like wildfire!

Mobilize the youth of a region or even a country.

Share the teachings for which they thirst with fellow students and professors

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

performing arts workshops. Bolivia (Spanish): pm teaching projects in warm Santa Cruz to work with Radio Bah4’s or social and economic development projects in the cool highlands and work with Youth Workshop. Brazil (Por: Diverse projects in teaching al and economic development or serve at the School of the Canada (English): Wildfire Theatre needs dancers and sound person for January 2001 tour. No dance/drama experience _ necessary. Maxwell International Baha’{ School has ongoing needs for volunteers in areas istration, finance and personnel, gardening, student servi academic and facil services. Service at the National Baha’{ Center from MayAugust each summer. Chile (Spanish): Full-time, ongoing Martha Root project in Copiapo, northern Chile, primarily through Copiapo Baha’s Youth Workshop. Next phase starting January-March, 2001. African-American. youth particularly sought. Dominica (English): Teaching projects in villages and training institute courses for youth. Dominican Republic (Spanish): “Ruhu'llah” and “Learning to Grow” Projects,

Crossing paths

Musician Chris Ruhe (right) gets together with Baha’i youth teachers from Los Angeles and from Bulgaria on the streets of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. In his summer musical teaching trip, Ruhe made a point of catching up with the California group in Europe but also made several stops in the United States.

g on training i | communitie Project Badasht, system: training in rural communiti fait other youth, or service at one of two Bah; schools. El Salvador (Spanish): Variety f for volunteers at the Jamiliyyth Institute, New Garden Baha’t Institute, Badasht Institute and Ridvén School, as well as supporting other local youth efforts. Jamaica (English): Assisting youth workshops, teaching in rural areas, helping with the radio show and/or a television conference, with institutes and other training programs, teaching children’s classes, or administrative work at the National Center. Mexico (Spanish): Furtitan Project focusing on promoting the Cause among students and faculty of universities; Edna Ford Continuous Teaching Campaign in Juarez on carrying the message of Bah@’u'lléh to the Tarahumara Indians. Panama (Spanish): Team of two samesex Spanish-speaking youth to serve in Colon. Venezuela (Spanish): Ongoing year of service program incorporating proclamation, teaching, consolidation, theater, music and other aspects. Virgin Islands (English): Spend a year at the University of the Virgin Islands and teach receptive souls in beautiful surroundings in free time.

‘itute programs

ASIA

Korea (South) (Korean and English): Using performing arts, building friendships, service, training institute programs at the core of several projects. Thailand (Thai, English): Dedicated volunteers needed at the National Baha’ Center, Nongkhai Bahé’i Center, Omgoi Development Project and Santitham school. Other urgent needs in Asia: Contact the Office of Pioneering.

AUSTRALASIA

Fiji (English, Fijian, Hindi): A youth skilled in Baha’i Youth Workshop to assist development of local youth groups. Hawaiian Islands (English): Volunteers needed to assist the Maui Baha’i Youth

Workshop. Minimum period of servi ce months. Kiribati (Gilbertese) Ootan Marawa Baha’f $ ture youth to serve as helping the school’s 30 student English, and to help with various school

related social = and_~— economic development projects. Mariana Islands (Chamorro, Carolinian, English): Youth

experienced with youth workshops to serve at | ix months as coordinator Guam Baha’i Youth Workshop. The M as Baha’i School on Guam needs one or two youths as teach ides. Marshall Islands (Marshallese, English): Teaching, development and consolidation work, continuance of dance/drama workshops. Papau New Guinea (Pidgin , English, Motu): Minimum one rvice needed, ing adminctions at national Baha'i office—preferably male volunteer.

Samoa (Samoan, English): Guide at the at the

temple, work with children Montessori Bah: ple, help organ literature at book sales, teach and d en new believers, ildren’s and more. Tonga (Tongan, English): Youth to assist with development of existing youth workshop. Tuvalu (Tuvaluan, English): Encourage local youth and assist development of children’s Vanuatu (French) Drama, music and dance abilities needed for development of youth in villages.

EUROPE

Europewide: European Baha’{ Youth Council projects—contact Office of Pioneering. Need for administrative aide in office of Continental Board of Counselors for Europe. Diversity Dance Theater: nine-month Bahda’f Youth Workshop tour. Bulgaria (Bulgarian): Dynamic youth to lend assistance to the work of the National Youth Committee and other work. France (French): Periodic need for youth with video production and other media skills for the National Audiovisual Committee of France. Hungary (Hungarian, German): Become member of permanent teaching team to teach the Roma minority population. IceJand (Icelandic, English): Urgent need for experienced Baha’i Youth Workshop member with artistic and organizational ability. Latvia (Latvian, Russian): Need for a young pioneer in city of Ventspils. Malta (Maltese, English, Italian): Urgent need for youth to join teaching projects aiming to establish the first National Spiritual Assembly of Malta. Slovakia (Slovak, Czech, German, Hungarian): Baha'i youth workshop coordinator(s) to maintain two groups. Switzerland (French, German): Periodic needs for volunteers at the office of the Baha’ International Community and at the Baha’{ National Center, in Geneva, as well as to live in goal towns near Zurich and Lausanne. United Kingdom (English): Two youths to serve for three to six months assisting development of Baha’{ youth workshops, children’s classes and junior youth activities.

page 24 THe AMERICAN BanA’i * News December 12, 2000 [Page 25]a ae

SEEKING: YOUR*RESPONSE

- es

IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY

Honor those you love on their spe- You may get these Treasurer’s

Your window to cial days or remember them after Office forms: () cr teaching, deepening they’ve passed on +n the Web: Printable foms for thse speci and external affairs ‘ontrbubons are avaiable on the Admanistative

... with your gift to the National Baba’t Fund, Web Site (www.usbne.org). j 1 . Each gift sent with an “In Honor” or “In + Through the mail: Printed forms are avaiable Available in November: Memory” form will be beautifully acknowl- from the Office of the Treasurer, 1233 Central St, Summer 2000 issue: 150th anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab edged by the National Spiritual Assembly. Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail i

Editorial: The Bab (1817-50) * Muhammad Afnan on “The Bayan”

on of one of the writings of the Bab

Other forms and information for individuals and treasurers on www.usbnc.org Local budget worksheets * Audit and other report forms * Fund-raiser notes Automatic Contribution System * Stewardship and Development

Howard Garey translates a passage from Gobineau about the begi
Karamat Mon

ings of the Babi

i showcases photographs of places associated with the ministry of the B

Also available: Spring 2000 issue—Reflections on the Century of Light

How do we recone arguably the bloodiest ever recorded

INFORMATION ON YOUR i

with the fact that Bal

Five authors weigh Subscriptions: INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP commonly, perceived to be a dark century: Ste} US.—$19 / year, $36 / 2 years j Friberg on science and religion, Geoffrey Marks on Outside USS. surface mai—

Chaim Potok, Gary Morrison on the ages of transition, $19 / year, $36 / 2 years ape record achievement of traveling teaching goals, the Office of PioneerJim Stokes on humanity’ fa bum, Milan Outside US. air mail— ing needs information on all international trips taken for the sake of Voykovic on the transmission and consumption of cul- $74 / year, $46 / 2 years promoting the interests of the Faith. This information is important whatever

ture and ideas Single copy: $5 + shipping/handling 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. cans. Just contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 Brilliant Star One Country (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail ). Bimonthly children’s magazine Quarterly about development by the by the U.S. National Assembly Baha’i International Community Use the Multipurpose Form below to respond by mail. Subscriptions: US—$18 / year, $32 / 2 years Subscriptions: US.—$12 / year, $22 / 2 years Include the following special information (use a separate sheet as needed): Outside US. surface mail—$18 / year, $32 / 2 years Outside US, surface mail—$16 / year, $30 / 2 years © Names and ID numbers of all Bah4’is on each trip Outside US. air mail—$28 / year, $52 / 2 years Outside US. air mail—$20 / year, $36 / 2 years + Names of each country visited, plus the one or two main localities, and date(s) of Single copy: $3.50 + shipping/handling Single copy: $3.50 + shipping/handling visit(s) is

Main purpose of your travel

See et a SocreyPesenny er YSidvot arise Us made the call ofthe Untrereal Hiédee OF Tate fore Herald of the South Native Americans to teach in the circumpolar areas? The American Baha’i Hispanic believers to teach in Latin America? Quarterly by National Assemblies of African-Americans to teach in Africa? 10 times a year; Australia and New Zealand available by subscription to Baha’is Subscriptions: US—$28 / year, $50 / 2 years a ee a on oe > outside the continental U.S. Outside U.S: Contact Herald of the South, MULTIPURPOSE FORM Outside U.S. surface mail—$24 / year, $45 / 2 years BE es ae Cutie US. ar mal / yar, $60 / 2 year ayaa CLip OR Copy AS NEEDED See ny eo mnettee naee Sg OPT ny ree eee For which event or activity? Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription oes Which publication? Address Send to: City ; State, ZIP Address Phone E-mail City State, ZIP Country Daytime phone or e-mail

Special information (please include dates if reporting international teaching trip): Sold to (if different from recipient):

Address City State, ZIP County Is this a gift subscription? (Circle one) Y N Home phone Fax

Work phone E-mail

Check/money order payment must be in U.S. dollars from U.S. bank, payable to Bahi'i Distribution Service. Do not combine subscription ts with payments for back issues or other single items. Georgia residents include applicable sales tx.

Credit card # (if applicable) Exp. date

Cardholder signature

Phone orders: 800-999-9019 © E-mail orders: Mail orders: Baha’ Subscriber Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30336-2017 ‘TAB 12/12/00

December 12, 2000 Tue American BAnA’i * SEEKING YOUR RESPONSE page 25 [Page 26]ORO TTF ER TT TTT IT

“PROJECTS

VINEYARD éf the] ORD

RI ER aT PLETE RTE: CARMEL’ PY FRET

UNT*CA

Astriking reception area (photo above) is located on level 5 of the International Teaching Center in the entrance foyer of the auditorium, whose interior has been finished (photo at right).

OFFICES MOVE INTO INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTER GOMPLEX

tarting in late July, several offices at the Baha’i World Center already had moved into the first six levels of the International Teaching ter complex.

en

The top-level offices were expected to be ready for the Counselors of the International Teaching Center and its Secretariat to move in during

October.

The council chamber is receiving final touches, with the central conference table, side tables and ornamental carpets in place.

A prism-shaped art glass, engraved with the symbol of the Greatest Name, has been installed in between the council chamber and the entrance hall.

Sunlight from a semicircular,

haped skylight will produce a reflection of the Greatest Name in different spots, according to the time of the day.

The library on level 9 of the building was completed with installation of woodwor!

carpet, furniture and glass balustrades.

Furnishing of the auditorium was nearly completed as railings, wood paneling, carpeting and chairs were installed. Audiovist next, with full operation expected sometime in October.

Ex

equipment was

ibits were to be placed in the auditorium foyer in time for the Coun

selors’ Conference in Jam 2001. PHOTOS Use of the fully equipped kitchen and dining room was to begin when the BY RUHI International Teaching Center had moved completely into the building. Page 8 Ree é VARGHA por %

NEW PILGRIM FACILITY __ ey , BEING CONSTRUCTED IN BAHJI eee

the Pilgrim Faci ty and Visitors’ Center (right) in CG onstruction of the new Pilgrim Facility and Visitors’ Center in Bahji, Bahji is substannear ‘Akka, progressed well this fall and was expected to be finished _ tially complete. by December. Concreting operaThe floor slabs—covering a total of about 17,000 square feet—are un- tion on the roof derpinned by pile foundations that were drilled 28 feet deep, so that they over the recep round sand rather than on the clay that tion center is a. under way.

rest on relatively stable unde

goes as deep as 19 feet in the ar

page 26 THe AMERICAN Bar

Mount CagMeL PROJECTS December 12, 2000 [Page 27]

he time is rapidly approaching when the Projects on the Mountain of God will be completed, their

beauty and splendor for the whole world to see and admire. But for the Baha’is these Projects have a very spiritual significance, succinctly expressed by the Universal House of Justice in the following words: “When the [Arc] buildings are completed, they will stand as the visible seat of mighty institutions whose purpose is no other than the spiritualization of humanity and the preservation of justice and unity

throughout the world.

ment are symbolic of the nature of the transformation which is destined to occur both wit

The beauty and magnificence of the Gardens and Terraces now under developjin the hearts of

the world’s peoples and in the physical environment of the planet.” Thus, the completion of these Projects indicates not only the conclusion of a very significant undertaking, but also the beginning of other “inescapable tasks,” each but a stage that will eventually lead “to that Golden Age of our Faith when the Most

Great Peace will envelop the earth.”

Mount Carmel Projects, Office of the Project Manager

or gine

EARLY DESIGN STAGES UND) AY FOR ENTRANCE GATE

AND COURTYARD LEADIN'

A:

SHRINE OF BAHA’U’LLAH

n ornamental gate and 1,000-square-foot courtyard, leading to the Shrine of Baha’u'lléh, are in the early ign to be placed in the precincts of the Mansion of Bahjf at ‘Akké.

Rising to a height of 15 feet, the multiarched structure is to be clad in stone, with a large central ornamen

tal gate flanked by two smaller ‘Two small enclosed courtyards, s fountain and shaped hedg.

ide by side, are to lead to a m

The new Pilgrim and Visitors’ Center will be nearby. Terraces tors can view the Shrine from a distance. These terraces will also help block out traffic noise.

stic formal lands

aped courtyard, with a

will be built, with paths leading to a spot where

In the entrance plaza to Terrace | at the foot of Mount Carmel, the central star-shaped fountain has been cast in concrete. Work is under way to concrete the flower planters around it. The slopes above the plaza are al ready covered with lawns.

TERRACES OF THE SHRINE OF THE BAB IN THEIR FINAL STAGE OF COMPLETION

n Haifa, activity to perfect the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab is intensifying,

[eee of the Terraces draws ever closer.

‘The contoured slopes of the Entrance Plaza to Terrace | are emerald gr

been planted with jacaranda, flame and cypress trees, bou; Carved marble has

fountain.

en with new g

s, and ii

the May 2001 public inau s edges have nvillea bushes and ground-cover plants. arrived from Italy, and masons from France are installing it on the star ped central

Above the Shrine of the Bab, landscaping is complete on surface of the bridge over Hatzionut Avenue as well

as around the circle of cypress trees.

On the avenue itself, final road repair has given motorists smooth passage as they drive within view of the Shrine below as well as the landscaped courtyard of the building under Terrace 11. Uphill from there, the finished planting on Terraces 11 and 12 marks completion of most of the landscape

work on the Terraces.

A scientific approach to horticulture in the gardens of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab

ardens as large and complex as the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab demand the application of scientific knowledge in horticultural practice.

Thus, an on-site laboratory has been established to carry out experimentation, testing and analysis so that its managers can make better-informed decisions to preserve their beauty and health.

For example: If a tree has pale leaves, a laboratory technician will take fresh samples, dry and crush them, then mix them with a liquid to analyze nutrient levels.

Much like a blood test, this procedure can show whether the tree is lacking in some minerals. Once the problem is diagnosed, the tree receives remedial treatment.

The laboratory regularly car

ease organisms. Among other examples of the

horticulture

An automated climate station can help predict the outbreak of plant pests and disease:

¢ Integrated pest management, an unusual approach for complex ornamental gardens, aims to reduce the gardens’ dependence on pesticides gradually through use of natural predators and other “soft option” pest and

entific approach to

e controls.

lly designed man-made soils allow gardens to be placed in unnatural places, such as on bridges and in the light wells of underground buildings on th Continued tri: periments provide essential information for plant planning—for example, selecting the most suitable grass types for steep slopes on the Terraces, or fine-tuning the irrigation system. Biomechanical analysis sheds light on the health of the

After over 50 y stock, these plants fected. Their flowers, originally a rich vermilion red, had faded to a dull pink because of viruses passed on over the y

boratory has renewed hardy plant. The s

tion ina local plant tiss the original color and energy of thi flowerbeds also got two year:

reful hi original choice of geraniums to be returned to their original locations in the gardens.

Environmentally friendly

Scientific methods are sometimes seen as hostile to organic or holistic approaches. But in the gardens of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, environmentally friendly methods are backed with scientific application.

For example, all the green waste is recycled in regularly checked, accelerated composting methods, and basic soil nutrients are supplied by compost and manure that ave been analyzed in the laboratory.

A biomonitoring project has been started in collaboration with Haifa University.

Harmless monitoring of local animal species in and around the Terraces serves to indicate the gardens’ biological health.

This natural technique is more sensitive to environmental changes than any mechanical equipment man has been able to devise. @

December |

»2000 = THe AMERICAN BaniA’i +

Mount CARMEL PROJECTS page 27 [Page 28]

lassified notices in The American

Baha’é are published free of charge to the Baha’{ 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

f you know of anyone who has skills in

the following areas, or know of people who may know others with these skills, especially for positions listed as “Urgent Needs,” please contact our Human Resources Department.

Assistant Researcher, Research Office. Responsibility and salary depend on abili

wo match the following skills: writing basic correspondence; organizing files/tracking many projects; organizing simall scholarly gatherings and

conferences; databases; critiquing manuscripts and corresponding with authors about their work; inter

z with, encouraging and answering questions from (Baha'i and non-Baha’t

cademi

about the Faith; carrying out basic literature and/or statistical research about the Faith and its community in answer to research questions;

les critical of

ng and responding to arti the Faith in a friendly, persuasi

thorough

red; doctorate or master’s degree highly desired.

Concrete Journeyman, Conservation Office. Utilize your skills in state-of-the-art concrete

fashion. Bachelor's degree req

repair for the historic Baha'i House of Worship. Opportunity to manage and train concrete artisans in a unique studio environment. Maintenance Team Leader, Properties. Will

manage facility/build

maintenance and

engineering staff to provide timely services at minimal costs; plan, estimate, schedule

n~ tenance requests and projects; ensure that all ngs are efficiently and

Needs at least five in all areas of building m

electric:

tenance (H! , plumbing, carpe! try, painting, cleaning etc.) with three to five

years as a maintenance manager; valid driver's license; supervisory command of English. Staff Producer, Media Services. Full range

video/audio production tasks, especially writ

ing/development of Babd's Newsreel. Keeps dayto-day production process in order; researches,

gathers news, writes, edits finished Nesreel stories, at times on own; helps d

clop network of correspondents; arranges duplication/distribu tion. Needs broad knowledge and experience in

broadcast journal skills, familiarity with Baha'i administration.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION SERVICES Systems Support Manager (technical manager). Must know Windows NT4/2000, have WAN experience.

Senior Applications Developer (2 positions). Provides high-level analysis, design, implementation of information systems. Familiar with a variety of technologies: VB/VBA (preferred), SQL7, Microsoft Access, Web Tools, Delphi Applications Developer. Provides high: analysis, design, implementation of information systems. Familiar with variety of technologies: VB/VBA (preferred), database, Web Tools.

Baha’f literature is a plus.

detailed information with

phone, mail and electronic

f Rall papers lace 9s Wes Satan eee experience in many aspects of accounting (receivable/payable, t bank i including a year’s management experience; valied retail backs” | ground a lus; strong computer skills including QuickBooks and Excel; must be highly motivated, a problem solver, able to work independently. Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Fund Development Coordinator. late strategies to increase participation, regularity and levels of contributions to the Baha’ Funds; helps educate communities, treasurers and Assemblies on the principles underlying contributions to the Funds and helps them apply these principles; reaches the community mainly through letters, phone calls and presentations; frequent travel. Needs strong communication skills and warm, mature personality; computer proficiency, ability to coordinate many tasks. Must be grounded in fundamental verities of the Faith. Related work experience a plus. Babd’t Distribution Service, Fulton County, Georgia: Customer Service Representative. Will process phone, fax and electronic orders, respond to customer queries, maintain customer records, handle correspondence. Should have strong communication skills, strong data entry skills, experience in telephone customer service or related work, pleasant and patient demeanor. Knowledge of

Persian-American Affairs Office, Evanston: Administrative Assistant. Office skills should include Microsoft Windows 98 and/or 2000, possibly Excel; typing 55 wpm, calculator by touch. Excellent verbal and written skills in both Persian and English a MUST. Should be well-versed in both cultures, able to interact with all types of people; must possess in-depth knowledge of the Baha'i Faith and have excellent consultative abilities.

Office of the Secretary, Evanston: Administrative Assistant. Interacts with all departments, composes responses to all correspondence, handles high volume of frequent interruptions. Needs sound problem-solving/organizational judgment, ability to work with confidential information and to work as part of a team (with and without supervision), written and interpersonal communication skills, proficiency in word processing, driver's license. Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Executive Assistant. Coordina tive tasks; maintains relationships with institutions and volunteers through

assigned to the Office of the ‘Treasurer by the National Spiritual Assembly.

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

. Helps formu tes administra and helps in executing tasks

Network Administrator/Engineer. Responsible for configuration, maintenance, security of cominfrastructure (LAN and WAN) including servers, cabling, routers, switches, NICs, Maintains documentation of network and servers. Should know NT4/Win2K.

SQL Database Administrator, Coordinates database development. Responsible for

puter network

Enterprise SQL server including security rights,

table design, normalization. Responsible for

design and implementation of user and depart

mental

plications as front ends to MS SQL7 using MS Access, VB or other tools. Telephone Systems Specialist.

Report Writer. Skilled in Reports; Visual Basic helpful. Help desk.

ess, Crystal

for

Doordinates support act

. Provides training and support

‘AI. Handles or delegates requests for support. Develops training-related materials, assists promotion and education.

For BRILLIANT STAR MAGAZINE WILMETTE, ILUNOIS

Associate Editor. Welps co ate and execute

all phases of content acquisition/development,

proofing, and digital print production for all

six issues per year of Brilliant Star in a cre ative, deadline-driven atmosphere; assists with

other print projects within Baha'i Media

ices. Must have two years’ experience with

rial and production work in educational publishing for children (ages 6-12); familiarity s and educational mate

with children’s activ rials to suit various reading levels and learning styles in the context of Baha’s teachings. Must

have strong creative writing and editing Should be detail-oriented; able to work in a

consultati nner as a member of a t

m, as

endently with little supe

well as inde;

quire and compile fun and

for children and junior youth,

network with contributors, help foster cultural magazine and article

diversity, participate development including research, writing, editing and on-site proofreading for all si

lust be able to stay abre

participate in regular staff meetings, assist with Should me, comfort marketing and promotional a fl

able with a creative, dead

be self-motivate ‘ible with

riven atmos

phere, and broadly familiar with Bal ings and principles. Needs background in education and in children’s varied learning styles. Must be a good com with publishing preferred. Applicants who within 100 miles of Evanston, IL, are preferred.

wunicator. Experience

uta Visi on 1 ms: Visit wwwasbne.org é and click. ‘the “Current Opportu“nities | for Service” link in the What's New list.

‘We regret that no inquiries (by phone, fax or mail) or visits to the Office of Public Information or to the Office of External Affairs can

be accepted.

At BAHA’l DistRiBUTION SERVICE Futton Coury, Georcia

Buyer. Helps ensure time

ability of Baha’

municates with publishers and vendors; nego economical avail

literature and materials; com

cs sales agreements. Two years’ experience as.a buyer, including work with purchasing

contracts or two ce retail order

ing and stocking;

administrative support i Sing MER

Word.

AT GREEN ACRE BAHA'I SCHOOL Euor, MAINE

Food Service Manager/Head Cook. Plans all meals, cooks or supervises cooking, manages dining room and kitchen, makes food purchas¢s; supervises Assistant Cook and up to 6 volunteers. Must have at least 3 years’ experience as cook and 2 years’ experience as head cook. Must be flexible, have strong interpersonal

skills, and be imbued with the spirit of service. Assistant Cook (part-time). Helps Head Cook prepare and serve meals; occasionally oversees kitchen and dining room operations. Must have at least 2 years’ experience as a cook.

AT NATIVE AMERICAN BAHA’! INSTITUTE Houck, ARIZONA

Cook. Urgently needed: experienced cook to prepare 3 meals a day for 45-350 people. Off season there are 11 residents. Must have a least 3 years’ experience in all-around food handling, food preparation and cooking. Prefer a licensed food handler (any county/state).

If interested in any of the above Baha'i National Offices posts, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

AT THE BAHA'I House OF WorstiP WILMETTE, IuNOIS

Summer Emplayment Opportunity: Temple Conservation Team! Secking youth 18 and older for summer 2001. Summer technicians take part in cleaning the dome, replacing sidewalls, building and landscape maintenance, detailed inspections, photo documentation and other tasks. Must have

considerable self-discipline and maturity, but no specific preservation experience is required. For additional information and to receive an application packet, contact the Conservation ‘Team (phone 847-853-2331, e-mail )

Applications due by March 15, 2001.

page 28. Tne American Ban’ ¢ CLassiriep

December 12, 2000 [Page 29]

‘The staff of the Office of External Affairs represents the National Spiritual Assembly in its relations with the federal and state governments, and in its activities with national and international non-governmental organizations, leaders of thought and the national media. The office also coordinates the interactions of and provides policy guidance to the U.S. Baha’ community regarding its contact with government officials, leaders of thought and national and interna tional non-governmental organizations.

‘The director is the head of staff and coordinator for the National Assembly's four external affairs offices that include the Washington office, the U.S. United Nations Office and the Office of Public Information in New York, and the Baha’s Refugee Office in Evanston, Illinois.

Principal Responsibilities ‘The human rights officer will work on various activities at the National Assembly's Washington offices including:

Collaboration with the director of the

office in the defense of the Iranian Baha'is and Baha’fs in other Muslim countries. ‘The work includes diplomatic relations with U.S. government executive and congressional officials and contact with the national media on defense matters.

Collaboration with nongovernmental

organizations and agencies of the U.S. government on human rights, religious freedom, race issues, the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, the formation of the International Criminal Court, ratifi Baha'i National ( Center, 1233 Central 847-733-3430, e-mail

Washington office can be accepted.

HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY’S OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, WASHINGTON, DC ‘The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to announce an exciting job opportunity in its Washington, DC office, the Office of External Affairs.

Please send your cover letter and résumés to: Office of Human Resources,

We regret that no inquiries (by phone, fax or e-mail) or visits to the

cation and implementation of U.N. human rights treaties, and other relevant issues.

Researching and drafting materials to

support human rights and other related projects of the National Spiritual Assembly such as the promotion of human rights, religious freedom, and race unity.

Assisting with communication and guidance to the U.S. Baha'i community about

the decisions and policies of the National Assembly in external affairs.

Collaboration with the Baha’

International Community and other National Spiritual Assemblies on external affairs issues.

Collaboration with the three other external affairs offices as well as other offices,

agencies, and committees of the National Assembly.

Qualifications ‘The individual who applies for the position should have demonstrated interest and ‘experience in the application of Baha’ principles to the current problems of society. A college degree is required. An advanced degree, such as law, political scirernational relations or related field, is highly desirable. At least five years’ related work experience is preferred. The individual must write and speak excellent lish. Because much of the work

involves attending meetings with government officials and other national organizations, researching and drafting of letters, and telephone conversations, the individual must have highly developed communication and consultation skills.

St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (fax ).

ACROSS THE NATION ‘The Office of Women’s Affairs of the National Spiritual Assembly is looking for interested people willing to serve as copy and formatting editors for upcoming publications. For more information, please contact Sasha Williams (e-mail i phone ).

INTERNATIONAL China: Numerous openings for English teachers and professionals willing to travel for service in

this rapidly developing country. For information contact Susan Senchuk (phone j fax 847-733-3509, e-mail §

PIONEERING / OVERSEAS

The Office of Pioneering is cager to assist the friends preparing for international service. For information regarding jobs and study abroad, or international traveling teaching opportunities and other events, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’f National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston,

IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail »

‘The National Baha’i Archives is seeking original letters written on bebalf of the Guardian wo the following: Eva Eriksen, Harry Eriksen, Vera D. Esinhart, Pedro Espinosa, Frances Esty, Masud Eutchadich, Edward J. Eubank, Winston Evans, Janice Ewing, Ada Mac Fadner and Katherine L. Faily. Anyone knowing fa tives who might have these Guardian’ letters is asked to contact the National Baha'i Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

ly members or rela

‘The National Baha’ Archives is seeking photographs of the followin: ian Steffes, Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, Franklin Kahn,

ionel

Chester Kahn, Marcia Baltgalvis, Gonzales, Pedro Espinosa. Please identify the photographs if possible with name of individuals, locality and date. Anyone having photographs they could donate is asked to send them to the National Baha’ Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

STUDY,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

true mark of distinction.

We look forward to an exciting year of study and learning. Here is what you can do to make it most effective:

Look for “Establishing New Bases for

Human Happiness” and additional study materials on the National Spiritual Assembly’s Administrative Web Site on the Education and Schools page (www.usbnc.org/bnc/depts/eso) starting in January.

Get your copies of the Epistle to the

STOCK,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Gifts of Nonqualified Stock Options Executives often receive stock options as part of their compensation. Options give the holder the right, for a set period, to acquire a share of stock at a fixed price. ‘There are two types of stock options:

Incentive stock options (ISOs).
Nonqualified stock options (NQOs).

Gifts of NQOs to charitable organizations (for example, the Baha’{ Faith) may

Son of the Wolf and The Secret of Divine Civilization and start reading now.

Contact your Local Spiritual Assembly or group to set up study classes in

your community.

Register early for spring and summer

programs at the regional and perma nent Baha’ schools.

Sign up for a distance-learning course

with the Wilmette Institute. The course “Introduction to the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf” starts Jan. 15. “The Secret of Divine Civilization” starts July 1. To register or for more information, contact the Institute (see details on page 22).

be permitted. Check the terms of your option plan. Generally, the income tax result is unfavorable for a gift of NQOs to charity during the owner's lifetime. A bequest, however, usually represents a better gift-planning option. Recent IRS rulings confirm that a transfer of NQOs to charity through one’s will can be beneficial, because options do not receive a step-up basis at death. Transfer of ISOs generally is not permitted, according to comments conveyed at a conference sponsored by the Chicago Council of Planned Giving. Check with your own advisers.

you can answer }

turning back and looking at the picture a

Answers are upside dau at the bottom of this page (no peeking!)

Questions:

A. Was there a rabbit in the picture? B. How many people, including Liang, were working on

the concrete?

C. What tool was used to chip at the concrete? D. Who was wearing safety goggles? F. Are the stairs on the Temple cracked?

“S94 °3 “Buery “q souruewppel y “> “an0j “g “59, “y

December 12,2000 THe AMERICAN BanA’i * CLassiriep/ConrinueD _ page 29 [Page 30]

Lee Nelson developed programs for searching Writings on computer

| ee Nelson served the Baha’i Faith in a number of ways, but is probably best-known for developing the computer programs Refer and MARS, widely used to speed research and searches through the Baha’i writings. He passed away September 19, 2000, from a heart attack. He was 44.

A resident of Dana Point, California, Nelson had been in apparent good health and physically active. Though shocked by his sudden death, his friends and fellow Bahd’is held a community ch party in his honor at Doheny e Park—a fitting tribute, because he id helped organize many such gatherings in recent years.

‘The youngest of five children, Lee Nelson was born Dec. 23, 1955, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He embraced the Baha’ Faith in 1978 while a student at Michigan State University. After earning a master’s degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he began doctoral studies in education at National University in Southern California, studying with Daniel Jordan.

Concordances of Writings

After Jordan’s untimely death, Nelson left his doctoral studies and, in 1981, began working on a computerized concordance of the Baha’f writings. He and Miriam “Mim” Goutschalk collaborated on several concordances of Baha’u’llah’s writings, including the first computergenerated concordance for Gleanings from the Writings of Baba'u'lldb. The two married in 1983.

In 1990, Nelson formed Crimson Publications to distribute Refer and later MARS (Multiple Author Refer System),

which offer easy access to the Baha’f writings. He later developed the recently released Explore! program. At the time of his death, he was working on a variety of new projects, including software to aid in memorization.

In addition, he served as coordinator for the Sacred Writings (English) Proofreading Project for the Universal House of Justice, mobilizing the services of many Baha’f volunteers nationwide. He also developed software to aid research and translation at the Baha'i World Center.

Numerous teaching trips His numerous traveling teaching projects included trips to Louis G. Gregory Baha’f Institute and to Belize, and he s and deepenings in

Spiritual Assemblies of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

His professional work involved business software development, and he had operated his own company, Integrated Consulting, since 1982.

A habitual punster who loved to laugh and to make others laugh, he often joined his friends in word games as well as in outdoor sports.

Nelson had a serious eye disease that required transplants for both his corneas. To be able to see the time at night, he invented a clock 20 years ago that displayed hours and minutes in two colors.

Lee Nelson is survived by two sisters, two brothers, two stepchildren, nine nieces, a nephew and 10 grandnieces and nephews. More than 250 friends and relatives attended his funeral service in Santa Ana. @

IN MEMORIAM Janet J. Banks Elizabeth Gillman Suzanne M. Murphy Madison, WI New Berlin, WI Chicago, IL September 18, 2000 December 30, 1999 October 5, 2000 Virginia G. Baxley Beatrice V. Hanks Lee Nelson Hays County, TX St. Petersburg, FL. Dana Point, CA October 1, 2000 April 12, 1996 September 19, 2000 M. Marie Brewster Spark T. Hashimoto Michael P. Peters Santa Rosa, CA. Milwaukee, WI Albemarle County, VA September 5, 2000 August 20, 2000 April 1999 Mildred Dannenberg Gordon K. Knight Allen Plymale Fallbrook, CA. East Longmeadow, MA Albion, NY September 17, 2000 December 2, 1998 December 23, 1999 Robert E. Ehn Janet O. Knight Bernard W. Streets Delafield, WI East Longmeadow, MA Niles, MI July 2, 2000 September 16, 2000 July 1, 2000 Nouranieh Etemad Catherine M. LaVada Shamsi Talabreza Harris County, TX Illinois Valley, OR Salt Lake County, UT February 14, 1993 October 1999 August 1, 2000 Akhtar H. Farahani John P. Moyer Agnes White Mouse Los CA Douglass Township, PA. Rosebud, SD August 25, 1999 August 5, 2000 March 19, 2000.

‘Mardy’ Oeming a community stalwart

Ma Oeming once was “Churchwoman of the Year” in Saginaw, Michigan, and an elder of the Presbyterian Church. Later, as a Baha’, she would be named “Saginawian of the Year” for her indefatigable work in promoting unity among the religions and races in her hometown.

The Baha’ community of Central Michigan will sorely miss their “Mardy,” who passed to the the Abhé Kingdom on Oct. 20, 2000.

Oeming became a Baha'i on the first Earth Day in 1970 and embraced the cause with great fervor. She recognized that the true extension of her committed

Davoud Sanii served the Cause on three continents

avoud Sanii, who pioneered from

his native Iran to Pakistan and England, passed away Aug. 21, 2000, in Alexandria, Virginia. He was 89 years old and had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other ailments for more than 10 years.

Sanii was the second son of Mirza Heydar Ali Oskui, the renowned teacher of Azerbaijan who had served ‘Abdu’lBaha in Haifa and was a recipient of a number of His letters, Tablets and prayers. In one ‘Tablet, the Master referred to the young Sanii as Davoud “the Vadoud,” which means “exceedingly kind.”

Indeed, say family members, Sanii had a gentle heart that even his controlled exterior could not hide. In later years, they say, it was rare when the mere mention of Baha’u’llah’s name did not bring tears to his eyes.

Sanii was steadfast and unwavering in

his convictions and devotion to the Faith, family members say. His adherence to ethical conduct in business dealings cost him dearly early in life, but he never allowed material considerations to cloud his judgment. He never waited for others’ appreciation or applause for his action, preferring to act on principle in consultation with the Holy Writings.

Born in Tabriz in 1910, he grew up with three brothers and four sisters. He enrolled at the University of Tehran in the late 1920s and completed his education as a chemist, after which he joined the Medical Corps of the Iranian Army.

In 1944, Sanii married Nayyerreh Rohani. He was soon appointed to the ‘Tehran Teaching Committee and served the Faith in that capacity until 1953, when responding to Shoghi Effendi’s call for pioneers he and his family set out for Indonesia.

Employment conditions forced the

family to change plans en route and stay in Pakistan. There they helped form the first Local Spiritual Assembly in Rawalpindi. Political developments caused them to return to Iran three months after the birth of their second son.

In 1975, Sanii and his family moved to the British Isles. Their home was a hub for friends and strangers alike, and they became particularly active in helping the Iranian friends who had fled the Revolution assimilate into the local community.

Sanii served as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Westminster and the Persian Affairs Committee until their homefront pioneering move to Chelmsford, England.

In 1982, moving for the 20th time in 38 years of marriage, they emigrated to the United States. Virginia became Sanii’s last home.

Christianity was the acceptance of Christ’s return in the person of Baha'u'llah.

Her enrollment allowed formation of a Spiritual Assembly in Saginaw, the state’s first Assembly north of Detroit. Later, she served as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member June Thomas.

Although health and family circumstances did not allow Oeming to pioneer, as a traveling teacher she helped found and nurture the Baha’i community of Tapachula in Chiapas, Mexico.

At Saginaw Valley State University, she was a professor of humanities and comparative religions and served as a member of the Baha’i Club for 25 years. @

Davoud Sanii was mentioned in a Tablet revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, three sons and three grandchildren. @

page 30

THe AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ IN Memoriam

December 12, 2000 [Page 31]

I olay of Why 5S Le abl» ob

OUIS 49 Silane Joe aS age of aS Y,al,5 Fylings gl” stub dpeyehtligh ay: -qasld dag ssee Bab 32 6S LG ee SL sage of ot ob ie 9 hel he 5 Arps ge & ort ails gles 25,» eI OS oS age oF 2 W gure olrel Boye a Gay orl oS

(FW G2 pes Oo pa> Shae 4S Cd See 5 age gle «Yds Opa ObL 3! Let Bt Lb 32 HAs! oy! p> SL 9 oar SI ds tl tS A cee Ls pee SB IL of GL BL plas cealdtend ay ctgiSite Ly lage » tls Gait Sh place)" Abs aes ot Y Obj 9 Bg Joe (YVY Ge ath ly oper jUT

eee SH GT > ele GU 3,7 eddy Lg pg HL Ge | eo! OL 9 rS s ert » Jpte Le Gime oy pe 22 ek 08 CES ls Ces L chy! (v

ol el OSs GI 5 option JE » >» 9 p& al Ftd y SLT pe 4 oul GL se ole abl fb SU ob ele ol a shee y BE Gm op yy AL gl Gm 5 Bul epee eLelage Oper Slr OU gil» ith olbe ES

983 Be 95 SS jt part S 35 Oley oes 45 54s oh) AT ee 9 ty Il Oleg 9 Abe Cee w Ip adhe Slecl b port pls el patt one jt ole! athe Opem (The “te pe geetg 5! ab Ly a Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 322-3)

(GRom 42 acd HELPERS SOUGITT

le He 5! GIS pl- Shel Glol rye! 33> aS he Opto pts 5 Go GLAS | 732 al by 39d GUL & bpp OLE! mobs JL!

rihcmaybe aT 6 a 1 350 gol oS aul

fed 0 pes etl #

Ses el 2 ob Shoe ees

«Wore dblie > wo

cl 2 er Gare F by girth #

Re HIS tL coed Goslg wh wabin

odd gldy,> Haste Languages Institute, Provo, Uah

sath

Fas SS 4 Email Jee! LS yatl #

oop OUT ay aS 1 WS ssl ene glauys gel

4 ote eye 29 9 Aas plul Je 52 aptee

vases ed GIG al ile! sel sy! ao

> etl bk SIL Glee 5 ee oe oS Lobes cll j2 And 5 - oy yo - ab ol S2plie 5) ae cob pee bh Gl” unl abled soll 5 Sle be OI! 5 glaél Lb pplbe 92 SI AS ohn 99 Gd dy dees Gal Je GLE! £9 29 OLAS! Gls at OLS! Sys Laie bt cls GAS! Sot ey oT oes & le, by cere Bel ly 5 jaws eet y WIC LL; 2 col Lol 5 abled soll 4 glal y glaél ae 29 YN NV oe choleag CII dd OT eee OS ord ol or Se es ts pg OLS LS ee II JAE tee dhe on 4 eel deport 9 Soles BL Gis ALT ASI L 4 GUYL ag (VN Ge cglee) "cal atl alo orl Udlics ope Ll, cl > Wyo As S three oly Gel 9 ot UU |b ie pS cols bel Jadion y HOLT ps 1 he & re LL, Ope WSL Cl Mepaie nt 2g pte! Jalon gels tunjpe 53° ebG y Ko ome op GL Le ole | all CY, CUBS, 4 aagll dbs SLAG Bs p AS loops 5 > Ger 9 Jpol Lal Glhe Gilby gl 4 vil, Coll one 59 diilol Gulks 4 Slings abdbu., Shee GES 5 ole) Ih Cla b OS Sal phe 52 aha pel GL nL LG Opt 7 Ge (The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 19-20)" cul he by 29 GA Spt Oper oil Ge 5 He ele Lal ee lel os ole He ADL Jalon 4 cle Jel Crepe ple Jy ores Jotionw Gb jl yobs bars ders) eol pbcl (VAAY joel & Cape cpltel coke fel Gls 4 ape ly Eis gal 49 pS olen els Cel GLI! Le Srey gyre y Beeb Sey ee alee 055 oy? Al v2 ore 2 OS nol ll ol ib Se Le! ples bal, toledige coltilere Wictiegam car & Sloe eT gal teade ISLA WS oe Ge ol AS Soe sage od abl jlo thay 25 ob SL thaedh Gb, gUT jl oll sy gre Ls sUAs Aba 4 geal slam oul ole yo WKS AS et Ey bole ghStage JI Sr cle pd BT ed 39 5 ILS Gis jo Greie ee ee oS yy - tl Lol ry el 0b oles jl tS Ge Gea, 9 Le lige oblawe of Ga ats » bow. BI gly F Soy Oe AS dl bbe 5 OG AEE AB tle 32 le ley Gut shanty Wy SUG pe 6S oat Jane eh BLAT © eels ote Ob wy Slis 95 JY) Ls te

sewed odie gle 9 AEE on!

pad Slee Capt OI eS we Bare PS 95 UL lbs gl cb 4 Eth ol! of lS sly Se gle cbLG gu piSol 5! wel All a dacs pl the o obs SS C3 Spar iGltme 5 Age pS ey ly vj ole eee bas wtde JSe of CLs » dle gel ST Ly ath ls Gee tl OT ily tee Sle pl OL GT Cape od! hel Jalon Qy Lb joe ee colouss, lest gerpei Atel, pale soles cuales 3h glade gee ole WS dey pe we ola Sle OS ol es LS See 2s of IE ol gol Uy Sle 9 hy Hel Smo the

2» bl ap hee SF Gms fol Je » » PP SF Col el oleal dee Jmol onl GE ple PU ISA ty il Ch ol Ere 4S CS Shy ee NS arb ceed ot ye y Moya 6S cml pl ghal Jel gle GU Jel wt Ladle | wil ply 9 Leys ghy > 0° Obs & Bb 56 shen, So tel po seed ge GL! GY Col gly Blso Ae

aot sly od “ple” age che dl ale » cl AS ht EE lg Hh Ge eh Soe Jee 0S op im 5 age ole wt a OS toys glitle jl Llne Ope SNS 3909 OLS gene |) Gee Se sl OLS Ore Methe allie yg 52 Me Loy & gla Jul SB Sle p99) ees dF te Soe ager hel HB et (ge elas Ope SN aw aS Sb S Sle Qeor jl phe Sm » ve SN ire eg ALS GE Se Cale ayre ol) apa! hsSigets “Vsape Lod) igh ene OF Gr eo oped hd pl blo Gy eres GES 52 Wh Spee 9S ges I) oS fy cel Gpoee 9 erthe “gage GES" 4 AF tod AY He ae bot get ty PBL plbcl nab 4 Lb pee y OLS! 5 GLatl Tada

te 2 ogre jt ey ater AT lec! 2 Be rr ee tle CLL 5 CUS! Gol UL g beers aS, asagee,pd2 polyh aighe Lge pia Lal 3S ols BLS GS! ole! sly le Sp sot Stel lael” cl oy gb gol Ge Sey ARile itbndiglsa) 9 AS cial Gjealnaitle Ugg scy a ey ed Ge Spe gaa 5 pee of y antl 43 5 GSI GIL all op9 Soler dle 3 ee! 9 ake of 52 SF ls Jo GS G oped bir ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp )".Asl,3 leu). Stowe (455-6

el Be ee ee Lele Ope

December 12,2000 = Tie AMERICAN BAnA’i * PERSIAN

page 31 [Page 32]

aylo SURI L, gk) 4 52,5 glist 51 LS of Vey we tle gy Glbe a I ol Lbs Clb! $1 6S 4 Slate sighd «Soo ole 4 sje pe paans Wis 5 lp lke | Gale 5 pe oil gy dee heat pee Ty ee of 5h aS 1 oh PP S popate ji, 5 Jbela b lie Sard jl cad dae 5) oS Sole 2th GS Wyo YY Cape col jh SR lbs pbeel Jadior (NAV0 Le

tl Be 5 HE why LS Dy O43 92 SL WS ayay SF Col spell GI Clee only Lbs ee PUI gb LT, Hye sdes 9 Ob ee obl GH L gl »Lae PB Soo Sith phe ye lie 9 WS sro OUT UY tug ple Gls 5 tee ope sy Se ash splie he Sli 52 SF AST 6S ware age Cel by ap gh phe of Opes it lb 6 Xo 2 et ll Ce tres GET Gla sls 200 hi Syne Ly tat Ger lle tig WS Cul 5H Age JBI IS 51 Ss orp JEL LS aes She NAS bps AS ry OLS y te oye & ob! BET I OUT Ola)" 2ps Gar 5 Jobs 5! as (V5 O48 Ge Syl Ab pam

PRIS eT gal po hee edb QL ol Grd 5 Ci et polb Sop oly > hel oy Spee gpl Kade & ony cle die ls 5 age i te oor a DUT ty ane 5 Col dS glee 5) sighd oS aLLe3 LS ge ASE L gall Ge ell 4 GILL LA AS Col rol gal » Gas Qu oly jLT AD AIS 5) pelSatl 5 gall Ge jt ree Gry Cpe | ot Hh et Bhs alot boll 5 Wile ge bp SK we Ss del Die ty Troy & LA! GE 51, Woy»

aetie 99 dj! GE GET UG OL;L del, Cal Sy Sl ee ew ly Qa yl gly Cl le Aw tent Ge yb of 5» Ul AG gal 2) pid o Erbe ule S oS, Ge TA Woy & oll oly pl > Gs ot stl pol pele Olde 9 Col “Wy ody ab J” 3 pLSol LS i Srp 5 ah, Opem cate gh Spar Ge Spe lS2 Carpe Sle lo Is Spee AT ty Sandy ted y Cod Le igo Card de Ii gels if CL BI eal al eee SS prae copel IS ere alte & plicl Jaticon le Be ek Sins ol US il open 5 5 OF poles oF Shy Gail gal 52 Glee Jol & tiny S253 9% Cel speed Glan 5 WHE pe oS) SSG 5 She LG nb WS capes pr a ole Sor FIG A Sle wl Goty Doe e cl 2 Ly Soe ps} oly ope sled Col GL

Gee 2 bh plows She eats ob Gries clyl dae “YS ol” 45 9,5 CUS at Clb gf OU Gham ST ates ghd LT 4S ays WL Sul 9 de & PE & antl lS bie 1) gl pate ES by oT By ty GA ey Gaga Soul Se IOS oe & 9 hy ey b Le pil ged olay of y Geer L age Se (Ls) GE 2 me Po FH Pos AD Pw tl Sm Ids tl ee es GS Gee & GS sled ay25 6S Cie QI cul tty ty eede Ol GUT 59 a ewe Gall Sapa” tale oe le Spar cul oat gly tot dl ee CLT & Lt Gee Battie) Fore S op gee gl Gad 3! ola ges (plat Se Boysy Could jy) HL Ge 5 age onl Gate LLL op pO pas GH as) gh L BL hl jolt Gly bt Gs apy (oe! vB GUL y alpen LS SI oe arty 9 eee gy Nay> cen y ody Gos y aye of GI SLL Ae onl caw BS 5 GbE GT po Ghul oS Ln,» 9 phy » pS ser cut bh cel gay » we uk 9 OS SEs 5 Abe Cee St ll LS » SF 1p} as Grd tae by cal, okie “OT Gl 4> pe (Glue Gans) Ly Ql oyey MAb) Wojoy tui jLeT I ars Joo b GLEE eS 5 Ky IS 5 OT 5! dptoels 5 Glas 455 5! chalet sI gle 42.2 iS Bae lle Gly GEOLT S coy Jly OS 9 Col eype gery ail sl 238d Ge aly of dae shit je AT cle glLl y gees hype WS aged cee lie y age ghd b owe gi sore pre & gail ble We pw 5 olej 2 > 8 re ld ere by dl Be a! ger Kt Wore Lb as oly 5 ee Sow Hl Che 5 DG a gy A LY sy ol Spe Sp Mee Bl Sle 4 lS gf WS 51 SI 3 Ss AS od) des ol pee HL I 2 AL lS GE Le 52 45,5 Geo, o a NS appr ee ceed 0 OL GL de ate Ql L Jit aS lay » see of eye saylo gles ye 59 (goal bal Gh gy lasl SI oylye Gots 5 rye ye Hla 5.” As a OL DE be BS HI SLL

AU 3g HUQUQU'LLAH

ably GeAlST ay aN Spi (SS yp 99 95 OLS sen) Oo

dys arcu pe glings 4S 45,53 -\ oe GI Glee HG GI Gro DL sl age OG om Gurrent & sy e" wend oat ols Lol

Wl WIG 25 Cul ort oLtl a> » -¥ bags p Shy Gyb 5 oj 09,4 Shy OIL pal AS Cs ely SS ety ed ol! AB dre LGB Shy Ce | od Kb eS In oe bass

AU Gpd> Gls 4S ile ly pt 5 05 “1 ser GG, Whe S » Ls o,> pb ws Col, Site

19S lee oles So jl LL | Ge -f Gre pel Jadion thle dg Go ns ce Hel ages Ga HS opt gs Glows WS LS gre 0 tlie clo GI atl oat ae Ope Gl GEG RL & olble 5 ot eye

GEGrre Y Ole p WIG, coh, -d dl G3 bee De 53 5 Gl o5b,S tee 3g WS yee sol Ll sayfa Cugls! Gaull Jpate srl Ge Grre H oles UT als OY col Spo Tbe jl SE Cole

Set ae eeh CLO! 21,5 ols:

RIV tants » bh ole of Gls 5 dla

oly ts

Be 9 rec COVENANT (PS) Shet oe AS ty cbs dae yl 59 5 el oll (Ls > GIS ay QL! GE 5 rye5 le Glan po le Bae aT ob S Gla oy HL AG Pt gt ly LA GL 5 GLI! Ardy rp 0 OLS pls alae egbliie age «ll GU 5UT 5! Ub inh 2 b WT aS en 2b aw ober WN S5L slat ashe sled 2 5 99 3 95 2298 2 Adsl Cote L alas Ct et od AS ages Cole LH a re al Shady 9 als 955 Gly 5 AY 9 al Gleam gp Jee HP cad GL gle cal aT GIGASET 51 4S Glee cul (SE ote gs OG ree 2 oes CES yo CHI AL jlocl 5 Glee 9 age SI) cyl Gli Lab 52 y gl al Shee a5 5 De Cole lis 52 GLA! o45 Cul

page 32 Tne AMERICAN BanA’i * PERSIAN December 12, 2000 [Page 33]

92 pts He pl > ere vl> DEI MI ag gl Sas scot pdb J Sl SG! oy ae Ib; we Ll plb Ye Sy I BEd, 42 SIDI OU We aS ola gs sjlol 5» Glas! SF oy wyf ol, Glas AG! GEIL 32> ped 5 Stl 55) Bb All sb dls Why, Spee pb $3 SF ate 2S pe ST WKS ate 32 St

5B dwg FE2 Soy eet ate Ul Gl fol alt Bh, cad wale (3b

a9! cle She Cale 5! eee Spr silyl slo! A MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL PERSIAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS TASK FORCE

BP Bets Ses SI JL ee Hl 9 Cel ot abe Wee pel CL 9,565 Glow oth An Sb Ae Sly tele Ws Sly! «Lac! 9 FS A! gol CR 32 Whoop mage WW phe 29 Chel ager Gl Ye EE GL Ce DHE Sa! ole & lL Dr OF ols, 1a WS Cul

2 Giley Aasle Comer SI IL Gb 52

slg Cull 4 9999 3 0 let GLE pl

Ak Aull Lol age Glel 5! sok;

eee 4F fod slp! slol der Gh cd

Vee aes OLLG 5 bs 5 tle

LAB Ghol Gio yh 4 oS LIS

BB ry A I te Le WL ee

Sel 32 Spel Chane Gry 9 Cylae

Breese cals cass ese es

9G Ob ox CLL!» ISI ow,

22> tl Jke On 5! siub By Oe

se Sle tte Lee 5g Se Gly

Neel Sle pl 4 ae 5

WV Ge ply 22 he ey pte Jou ile dace ols lol Lac! 4 Gls \AAY_ 055 ae ob gaa OLS EL. toes SILI bbe oT GIGI pLicel y oop 8 oll dill hy dele 32 ott hs, sly bb Jy pac dee oof G atest gl ote gl glaslts Kp 0 Jes ee 9? OS > 3s Or OS le SLT wey Sry ey Sel Sly tel SE! Ge “oa8 GIs 5 o2bT Git, anole

SUA oo Ll 6S SU tes OY & 3 Cl del apes ae peri gol 92 HLS oul gee Sle gy 2 0S Shh Se GUS 228 cee Jed aS onl o> cell pl oly Le! A ee by od WSL ISL pe ob of GE 3 les, She palo ee etl HAS! Je obpe Se ply G pl Gop b 2 Gebel des ey Col GLUE! JLG 52 2,5 WL, splergs Jae le pai

erro daglo Ol> 3! cob IN MEMORIAM.

22s jepd 92 VAY Je Go gato oul be 3 he me Gb op lee 9 S225 aby 9 4 LIS Gal 52 pls ue

Here be ee cle pe -y ol! ee ©) on da UF lek gle i! 6 SI “grating! OLS Gps Slidel dene Jb o> E> 39 Az oS eo, Ll Cll SL 2 & 9 ean mH eles Oper Cobe Sp CHL GI Oper of ld 5! Gore ab sl bes 25 dle ope cll ol 5! ALLE ge Cbs “2429 oyyh” Olas

4 pen OF ey Seo SLI > are Ole Baty 52 oleh olRtils 39 5 9,5 glSe Ja oleh dees oll SI es 4 be & Jp me AU lke &

Bes pls Ly VATE JL 4) pate Le Bad Capos 4 SAIS Gaz 2S Zly95! Sos obs 9 WON JL Gy OES obs QL weetls JRE Cass ay Ce

She 4 Gael 92 aSde JE jt ere Ole ad SI nS slge 22H GET 42 al Jy ope Balt y glo Ll at coy pile 4 2S Cole DEAS pode sh glee 49 AF 9,5 jlaly bs! US

yt

229 He OSES CLs .Lir gluSl 5» Ll tls Corr Gash Ges, free ods! als oe bh ate IPE 3S ot Le Ops 228 olpl & GASjb

ple wl » pare ole VAVO JL. 5» sea lSil) 255 251s Guliggs sists olSul 6S Alp! olsly & SS 32 ey wy aot Ls bry 0d ghy So yyree CMGI GI ae WS age

doe SYLI 4 VAAY JLo po are dali 2 AdyS Coll Lee py ILI 42 5 to Cuze Bll Mjoripecio OUR Y + YLS CST YN 2S dyno ll OSs 2 Lan 44 59

BI M2 Ogckee Vo gle> GyWSL3 5 oor & oe G seed oA AG gy pA GLS app GY2 Ope 1° vat) ly tee SI Ole Gb as WHS “Sys dol” les Jour jl GSS 9 QSL. Gt tay gil plsl cul aye S chp, Ly ae of GET BL» Ay Wl OL

sl wls ls

Saag Aap WILMETTE INSTITUTE UL ler ee Gle Sly GLI UL, Je OFSI 5 eS Cb ote wy 5s es A+ weed at SESS Jas 49 Coby Lene bal 4 chaste” 4 “wad Erb» a4) YoN JL le opSie tb AS prope WL pls CnST NV G Yye YA GI GG by9 cul MB eur ue S Seppe Be 2p sald plane GS sls Voss Jl 52 S35 Erde Sf Obel s oo 9 oe ele bb! obe Jeo ler les Ble Sly Se 5! Sales Gwe ob» & bpp» Oldlas a la oly! 35 lS pb bed ol! Seep fled 5 grb y ey doy » De s ole» SUB Sore s ol & GB ighojl Hee able ol ay glatings by,9 59 aS lb» > Boo oo ole Bul i) Hl le Sh, aol, oh tell loa elt HL» Sle wre tl She wl elo Sus SLOW C549 Gly ilps er glue Le AH Jol ls obs Henge ao b pty 1-877-WILMETTE : 345 3,4

ao AGT yn099 9 995 92nd BAHA'| NATIONAL CONVENTION

YRS YN I ee ES gry 5 oy

Srtch! SUI 32 Sly ake v2 TV J eI DL » gt ole at vl IS, che ay aye F sald ade IS Gpte leLzel Sac BB pote ylSanls jl pee G Crp SS pS Clty 42 Cuil ald Goyer Jal SI Ame RG apSd2 lsh ope gel oo aL Cae he AS pe eb VV JL gy 3

By SLs Fay CLOW! CSL, Gly HID AS gt ed Olds 4 ws pl

December 12, 2000

Tue American BanA’i ¢ Persian page’33 [Page 34]

Moe Bobs Lael gbe 59 6 aT sald Als CSp2 LoS 0S 32 amepe ot Gail de 59 wets tals CSjLee gaylie & Olslis gil 59 Caylee Goce clacl 4 guylte gid pros Oe 9 I yh 39 WG oe lL AS Gps Sl) Shs 5g et ae sagpl sald lo Gare wb veel » ee gl Ghme Gol, Les 2? guage pi Soy slide gl aS Cust erie Spt G8 Sle 2d Ghd orth Grae ob Ole mle 32 ele Sol dans 5 2S ot! Oe ASE pte pel Jalon

te cileg, Jiro 40h Least eile deol ls

MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION TO THE AMERICAN BAHA'T COMMUNITY FROM THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Sin o> he les, Jer clacl Su! jl land cb lel ts +: sla, os! YY, YN he fire ale SI 5 ply 12S sla Wl tS pole Spl sly dole w oles dle 0S Col WSL line le Gilbey, Jie 22 She aed oD” jl ole 5 yt Ly old Ub GI IS -s5hea, SF Cole “peje slash 5 shG guylis Ole 4 ot eer ol peg Bho ob, hol gbph Sf cijlee cre lees 9 eS ge CS, slays GLile 42 4S Gib etice Ap Eglo de jae Spy py le £5; cSt ol GIS SGbI Geel 56 jl Boll Gyo Cole 51 G53 Sl So ay wel ss Lull Shel glKer yee y clathee Sly Gl Ole pL ope CLL 52 OS I~ wal ol» Sire 4 lee oh 2 Spl Sly tol Ol Gre aS glatt aS Garb ob pte he Le aS Col gp Sete at, ly lol gS obi an” opt ge Baap ee & ol Jpar ols} shele Joby "yas ee pH dl OSs 41! SIL ole of Gl ool LS CSL wal els 4 Soap ba ol ey SL Gb py oll Jol o> Ses lhe SI 05 CH I gn Els 2 ee Sle ule y Gatlin 4 SSVI G te sl, jl oll oy by OLS , 244 chibu Sree ley HL AAS Gals Geotle So, he eke Gel AS Wiss Ys ee Gl 238 soul girs jl ples clas Gb Gly BOI SH SB SEL Sle Gl 33 Gree s spt Sloot cant irre nt

1S railey ge bape AIST 4 Spee Culp &

TV 53 Say cee last oS 1, Sliras 5b.

6 AIF Hap Salad Mills le De (Gly Gprre SAP «Heather Simpson % pmmmw AB «low, ope <Erama Ugaia & 584 Lol! «Henry Tamashiro 5 tL «Robin White Culy ga) lon os) (s9bhe IT)!

sAlla Borets ad) YI «Fevziye Baki So 4355 Sass be ee 25903 «Uta von Both Sy 5 Gy! ove!) Patrick O'Mara Ley! Sol «Paul Ojermark Mhan Sj Qe 572) Lat (gly Griro LY 5b WR 55 Sci «Sezgin sy ghinge Clee «Larissa Tsutskova 1,5 p25 Ivo Zerbes pu 9}

pel Sapte 99 ohh » BLS J3 oI! 5) ol copy GGL Ae gal 3, 2Aw LL yl cuslis Gece » Copa wy bn Wb, a 12S go Gls

Saat ye Ben Ayala YON oy eget! wwllgla (GAGE Guay «Patricia Coles IS Lely wobYG + Tod Ewing Sis, 36 «Wilma Ellis J! Lbs os} «Linda Gershuny 3525 lad «beled gli sHizzaya Hissani SLs (2 U5 .® «Louis Henuzet 23,25 6 PLES le Nobuko Iwakura S121 55255 «Kim Myungjung Soy> Sapo AS « blS al 53 L& «Jacqueline LeftHand Bull). se Ci 3 ISI5 «Peter MeLaren )¥ Sis jin) «Betra Majmeto ,-o>Lo des slle Sy «Alejandra Miller uo Lach gll Srey Ss MaijaPibtainen 35 3 2 Gu «332 Daniel glyreel) Jails «Cdl, yyy «Ruth Pringle Be 59 tly pam Rely a Ramoroesi Isabel de pisLe 99 ulp! «Vicente Samaniego SsloL. Errol glow Js)! «Bruce Saunders 5.0L. 49 «Sanchez «GLE sla, c Edith Senoga B+ Cust « Sealy

«Lally Warren Qyly (JY «Tiberiu Vajda ely 9 5 -Wingi Mabuku Sle Say

dee oo tee! abe gil 45 pals olepbl 9 lt Oe Ctl Ql Jl GT 4 Cos BS iSlecco Bees sin dtal,> acslal 1p. e sue wogy dalyd QhT Sule Jolt Ue wu Gel

AS see gs esa clots NG eel ea, 9 Are EE Dp Col (SL Sod Gp 52 OSI Spey 59S Win LAB 15,3 wal C525 Geysls ool page cls Gees oo So GUT ples! slope > Caylee slecie slacl , blot Qs y lew Glp 65 Slot, Sebet 5 he polo gilder & vil age » hee seuly shel» ob oad 52 «glaihie SSH y hue coe 6G Ls oe JI

etl weld Slo claibs 5 pe oles Shy

CLG ee 22 guslds Geese clacl 5! ease UL 22 SF lylds 52 WS 254 2 Oreo Be VN ay VY GN Gl Ile gay Aad pope biyge OS 2 ob S als plel le le iS tore le ple SIS pe Coser Geers Glacl

ol pas! Seta) ew ply ile ple & oles Vere pSV V4 Ego

UNI . HOUSE OF JUS ‘YO THE BALIA'T WORLD, OCTOBER, 29, 2000

px & Galas SF ¥e-+ JL pals HV 59 gliael Sad Jlrs ae by99 cul Glas Pes dll She sly Gly G gayle Gears gleams cols gl sls 0S ge GUT blobs roy dal ds BS 5 slits gle pl a3, Je ce el SL ee ll S SS feuls pel wheat Gpare (oglee 14) big dt

<George Allen gl Case «Beth Alten gl Cy Asfaw Ls du a3 inl Beatrice Asare LT 450 Gere gwel) Glol jee (Sypt) GL «Tessema Clement-Thyrret Feizoure 2495 3 Jy G-CAd «( sho Ibrahim WIV lz! «Kobina Fynn 303 LS « ol Kamaye Moussa (pvye LS «Galadima «Enos Makhele al>Le (4551 «Eddy Lutchmayalls oY Rachel 155 L421, Maina Mkandawires plus Le

de>! «Muhammad Otmani (3lLitc Anus «Ndegwa

PS) SI Garth Pollock SY, OF Lk -Tiati a Zock S53 131 (yee V9) peal ILS

Eloy Ancllo sb! ¢5Jl «Eugene Andrews 55,45! 3 > Gustavo 1,5 52255 «Stephen Birkland JIS) 5,21 «Irma Nelly de Dooki (552 52 sb Le»! « Correa

o> + Antoinette Ziehi

«Angelica Huerta G Spe Sobol gb 213 GLI 24, «Antonio Gabriel Marques 5SjLe Jo pS 3,21 Catherine Monajjem exo 25'S «Herve Masrour y3 -a0 VJ y2j\F «Rebequa Murphy (--» LS, « pl 9953) «Carmen Elisa de Sadeghian 4L33L0 59 eyed «Crystal Shoaie cles Slaw S «Arthro Serrano «Marilyn Smith Cow! oJ syle «David Smith Caw! legs Soay) « Leticia de Solano GY pu 99 Le aly 392 (Gl Gyrro g0l)Rodrigo Tomas -Dorothy Whyte (rgldeo 14) banal

Baatar (> ol. ght (OL « olss,! Jo «Nidavanur Baskarangl\Sul 4,ilslo (5 Uransaikhan A obey «GEIL! > irene Chung Soy gl ng SSL uy9 «Elena Grouzkova 1,55,,5 UII Humaida Jumalong JL> Iaese (slo Gro gpl) Delafruz |youi 55,31 J> «Lee Lee Ludher 3Y (J GJ LS Le «Lori Noguchi 2455 sy9) «Nassimova Lateef 45) AL) «Jaya Gopan Ramasamy_2L.Lel, Dena rulyye Lo5 (dst ply «ply, oid «Rashid OIF Shia) «Goerge Soraya L,> C 5% «Sorabjee

David H

-Rosalie Tran (ggleeo 19) Ape guibed!

Donald Sy UL y> «Beatrice Benson a> Gu SL om!) David Chittleborough 555 J5 (2 4222 « Blanks

page 34 Tne AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ PERSIAN

December | 2, 2000 [Page 35]*INTERKRNATIONAL*NEWSe

Temple in India continues to earn accolades

BY ELIZA RASIWALA, MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS INFORMATION DESK

oe years after its dedication to public worship, the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent continues to draw accolades and millions of visitors from around the world.

On average, 3 million people enter the portals of the House of Worship every year.

Not only does its architecture continue to enthrall professional and lay people alike, the atmosphere of serenity it exudes and the majestic simplicity of its interior draw many to inquire about a rere such a building.

A visit to the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi has become a must on ers’ itinerary, not to mention urring visits by the residents of New Delhi who have taken the “Lotus Temple” to heart.

Some time back, national newspapers carried a two-page advertisement for a Web entity of the Times of India, the most widely circulated English language newspaper in India.

Under the image of the Lotus Temple it declares: “One of the most visited sites in India. The Baha’f Temple, an architectural landmark. Through these gates millions of people enter, and find what they are looking for.”

In recent months the Baha’ House of Worship has found recognition in various other forms.

Guinness World Records 2001 dedicated the largest section of its two-page coverage on religions to a beautiful image of the ‘Temple illuminated at dusk, with text headlined “Biggest religion without rites.”

In World Architecture 1900-2000: A Critical Mosaic, Volume 8, South Asia, the Lotus Temple appears as one of the 100 greatest canonical structures of this century and adorns the cover.

The Indian Temple also received a prestigious international award, from GlobArt Academy in Vienna, Austria, in recognition of “the magnitude of the

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Above: Amjad Ali Khan (center) poses with his sons in a publicity photo for a November concert on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in India. Right: Temple architect Fariburz Sahba (second from left) was presented with the prestigious GlobArt Academy 2000 award this fall in Austria.

service of [this] Taj Mahal of the 20th century in promoting the unity and harmony of people of all nations, religions and social strata, to an extent unsurpassed by any other architectural monument worldwide.”

And earlier this year Amjad Ali Khan, acknowledged maestro of the sarod, an Indian classical instrument, sought permis

sion to perform on the Temple grounds.

“I have had a dream for some time now, which I want to share with you,” he wrote. “I have wished to perform, most humbly, with the Baha’i Temple in the background.”

‘The performance Khan envisioned was to take shape in November at a prestigious function with extensive media coverage. #

EDUCATION/DEVELOPMENT

Ghana: The Baha’i community presented UN Secretary-General Kofi

Annan with a bouquet of flowers after a ceremony in which the University of Ghana, Legon, gave him an honorary degree. Counselor Beatrice Asare and Auxiliary Board member Agatha Nketsiah made the presentation.

Luxembourg: This year, for the first

time, a representative of Parliament attended a celebration the Baha’is hold each year on the anniversary of Grand Duke Jean’s birth.

Niki Bettendorf, vice-president of Parliament, joined about 50 people in a celebration that included piano music and songs performed by children in the Baha'i school classes.

Colombia: Counselors from each

continent traveled to the Ruhi Institute in February to analyze what makes this training organization so successful.

The group had been invited by the International Teaching Center to view institute programs and see what common principles have been applied in a process of sustained growth in the Colombian Baha’i community.

‘They discovered a culture of consultation in which an alternating pattern of action and reflection, with an accompanying attitude of flexibility, has become the accepted norm.

Liberia: Five friends of the Faith, including pastors of Christian churches, joined 20

Bahs’is in a weeklong study circle using

Book 1 of the Ruhi Institute materials. The non-Bahé’i participants all expressed their appreciation for being allowed to participate, calling the study circle rich in content. Two of these friends later communicated interest in joining the Baha’{ community. inland: A public seminar on the theme “Human Dignity: A Global Responsibility” was part of the program for a Baha’i summer school held in Helsinki, attended by about 250. The discussion was followed by a dramatic presentation, and an exhibition of work by Baha’i artists titled “Unity in Diversity” was open to the public. Special attention was drawn to the role of the community in child rearing.

TEACHING

Democratic Republic of Congo:

Baha’ radio and television programs on such subjects as peace, the elimination of prejudice, consultation, prayer, family life and children’s education appear to have an impact on governmental, academic, and media circles in this strife-torn nation.

After a program on the Baha’i electoral process, a representative of the president’s office called the Baha’i Center to request more information about the Baha’f administrative system.

Another program about the unity of

religions was broadcast shortly after an interreligious clash in Kinshasa, and it was reported to have a calming effect.

Mongolia: Summer teaching projects

integrated with the six regional Baha’ summer schools resulted in a total of 214 new Baha'is. Of these, 211 took at least one course based on Ruhi Institute materials.

A national goal for the Twelve Month Plan is to teach the Faith to the Tsaatan (Reindeer) people. A team of three Baha'is received permission from the tribal chief to share the Message, then conducted two children’s classes and a Unity Feast.

As a result, six people enrolled in the Faith. One, an old shaman named Baatar, said his wife came from a very old tribe called Bahaitan and that nowadays a beautiful baby is called “Bahai child.” ¢ Australia: Baha'is put in a Herculean effort to ensure that the thousands of visitors to Sydney during the Olympic Games in September heard about the Faith of Bahé’u’llah. Communities through which the torch passed organized to wear Baha’i T-shirts. Interested visitors also could telephone a toll-free number or a special Web site.

The House of Worship was an attraction unto itself. The Temple was featured in ads placed in government buses, posters were produced for use by local communities, and a full-color brochure was distributed to Sydney-area hotels, visitors bureaus and tourist destinations.

ARTS

© Kazakhstan: The Baha’s performing group Dostar made such an impression on people in Kentau that several traveled three hours to see the group again in Shimkent. The tour of four goal towns was part of the National Spiritual Assembly’s strategy for the Twelve Month Plan. Dostar makes use of several art forms at a professional level to convey principles of the Faith with wisdom and enthusiasm. The group spends about two weeks in each town, holding a concert and several workshops.

Canada: Leaving Humboldt, a onehour musical inspired by the life of Fred

Mortensen, has been performed before 750 people in several western cities. Mortensen, at age 25, traveled in 1912 from Minnesota to New Hampshire, to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahé and was transformed by His love. Created by Baha'is associated with Sylvan Lake Baha’ Center in Alberta, the play has a cast and crew of 30 friends ranging in age from 5 to 21. #

December 12, 2000 Tue American Band’ ¢ INTERNATIONAL News page 35 [Page 36]

Canyon Content. Box 9961, Phoenix, AZ 8

a rate, contact the Roel (phone 800-2331234 or 602-252-1234).

22-26: South Carolina Winter School at Springmaid Beach, Myrtle Beach, SC; theme: “ dren: Our Most Precious Treasure.” With National Spiritual Assembly member William Davis, Auxiliary Board member Shahin Vafai, Farzad Roberts, Marty Ravellette, Andrea Ulmer. Registrar: Doug Phillips,

Justice”; “The Dawn-Breakers”; Ruhi Tutor Training. 5-8: Core Curriculum Youth Empowerment Facilitator Training at Louhelen; continues May 25-27. 10-14s Assembly Development Module Workshop at Bosch.

10-15: Pioneer Training Program at Bosch. Contact the Office of Pioneering (phone 847-733-3508).

16-181] orth Dakota Winter School, with Tyas and William Wieties. Information: Rosalin Chrest (phone 701-839-1015).

16-19: Core Curriculum Race Unity Trainer ‘Training at Louhelen; continues May 18-20.

(phone 7e 12-15: Core Curriculum Teacher Trainer Training at 16-19: Two programs at Bosch: “Reaching People of mail ). Louhelen; continues June 1-3. Chinese Descent”; “Holding Successful Firesides.” 26-31: Winter School at Green Acre: “Relationships, 19-21: Two programs at Green Acre: “The Secret of 16-19: Northeast Regional Baha’i Youth Festival, ene and Family Life.” Divine Civilization”; Seekers’ and New Believers’ “Intoning the Verses of God”; Teaneck, NJ (for infor26-31: Winter School at Bosch: “Comparative Weekend. mation e-mail

). 23-25: “Islam and the Baha’{ Faith” at Louhelen. 23-25: Two sessions at Bosch: “Study of Qur’én/History of Islam”; “Effective Teaching to Christians.” 23-26: Core Curriculum Marriage and Family Life Trainer Training at Louhelen; continues May 25-27.

19-21: “Facilitating Social and Economic Development” at Louhelen.

19-22: Core Curriculum Parent Facilitator Training at Louhelen; continues June 1-3.

26-28: “Dawn-Breakers” at Bosch.

26-28: “The Hidden Gift of Tests” at Green Acre.

Religions” plus “Mediation and Conflict Resolution.” 26-31: Pioneer Training Program in New York City. Contact Office of Pioneering (phone 847-733-3508). 27-Jan. 1: Winter School at Louhelen: “Prayer, Teaching and Global Transformetion.” 27-Jam. 1: 10th Annual Mid-Winter Baha’{ Youth Conference, Cleveland, OH, for ages 12 and up; theme: “A Bridge to Which We Shall Never Return.” Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of West Chester, OH. Registrar: Jim Hagan, (phone

See

PERTHAUIR a Fund Develeparent coordinaiin Page Help Desk * New York Office: Public Infornation Director _ 28

, e-mail

jerican Baba’, send all National Center, 1233 Cen dress (B) must be filled in. Please allow three

new address and 60201-1611. If s for process

A pair of young students at the Shenandoah Baha’i

cyst Does OMe a ere ing. (This also updates the Nation

School (formerly NAMES)

Massanetta Springs) in

Virginia get right down to os ipso

the source as they 2. om bes cest J Aeitenrseny ‘eyomies:

participate in an “insect safari” activity. Photo by Dennis Grundman fe

BAHA'I NATIONAL CENTER DECEMBER 12, 2000-JANUARY 18, 2001

112 LINDEN AVE MASA'ILISHARAF WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849 ee

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS,

NEW MAILING ADDRESS

Street Address

Apartment # (if applicable) Apartment # (if applicable) City City State Zip code State Zip code

D. NEW COMMUNITY

E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER

Name of new Baha'i Community Moving Date ‘Area Code Phone Number Name E WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S) Area Code Phone Number Name ‘Area Code Phone Number Name

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:

H. 1 WOULD LIKE A COPY

We do not have the same last

name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and ID number(s) listed above.

‘The last names and addresses

on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of family members as they should appear on the national records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

[10 household receives only ‘one copy of The American Babé'i. 1 wish to receive my own copy. 1 have listed my name, ID number and address above.

Tue American BanA’i