The American Bahá’í/Volume 32/Issue 4/Text

←Previous

The American Bahá’í Volume 32, Issue 4

Next→

Return to PDF view

[Page 1]

Unified purpose, fresh

enthusiasm

Senior institutions in U.S. report momentum on threshold of new epoch

Letter to the American Baha’i community dated February 24, 2001

D early loved Friends,

It is with feelings of profound happiess that we write to the American community about a collaborative national gathering composed of newly appointed members of the Continental Board of Counselors serving the United States, their auxiliaries, the National Spiritual Assembly, the Regional Baha’i Councils, the National Teaching Committee and the National Education and Schools Office. The aims of the gathering were to consult on the strengths of our national Baha’i community and to foster a sense of unified purpose e for the launching of the Five Year Plan.

The meeting took place in an atmosphere of learning filled with unprecedented joy, love, and unity. In addition, the Counselors and their auxiliaries brought fresh enthusiasm and a renewed sense of confidence having recently returned from their historic conference in Haifa, marking the inauguration of the seat of the International Teaching

we

SEE MESSAGE, PAGE 15

Baha‘i National Conference june 28-July 1, 2001 - Milwaukee,Wisconsin Register now! www.kingdomconference.org

CONFIDENCE

amid the tempest

he winds of change swirl. ‘Transformation is not just a fond wish; it happening right now. But consider the contrasting visions we can glimpse from that transformation:

Our planet has become much smaller through technology, yet age-old prejudices and fears are asserting themselves and keeping humanity from achieving true peace. Traditions that used to force women, men and children into lives of limited vision and development have been shattered, yet the internal discipline, belonging and family life that these traditions safeguarded for individuals and societies has been almost forgotten.

Education, training and modern ways of life are becoming more universal, but the spiritual basis for happiness is being forgotten and jom is being discarded along the wa

How ing Baha'i National Conference—Building the Kingdom for Every Man, Woman, Youth and Child— help us not only make sense of these powers of change, but harness them to improve our lives and our communities?

This conference, June 28-July 1 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will be an immersion in a joyous process of discovery. Powerful artistic and musical presentations will help “remove the rust from our hearts.”

Workshops will be available to help us share and learn

the upcom

SEE CONFERENCE, PAGE 21

Strategic Observations on the Five Year Plan

e are pleased to present a document of our Na tional Teaching Committee, to share with the friends much of the thinking and analysis that is going into our national consultations for the Five Year Plan, which begins at Ridvan. It was created for the February meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Continental Board of Counselors, the Auxiliary Boards, the Regional Baha’i Councils, the National Teaching Committee and the National Education and Schools Task Force. .

Key findings and planning points on:

• The growth of the Faith in the U.S.

+ Patterns of learning through practice

• Attracting and enrolling seekers

• Developing community

• Unity in diversity and retention of believers
• The rising generation of young Baha’is

• Training and education

• Systematic programs of growth

Strengthening the leadership of institutions Building agreement as we create change

Pages 4-7

eoeeceeoee

JAMAL/BEAUTY “‘ALAMAT/GRANDEUR

VOLUME 32, NO. 4

“rN S‘I-D-E

‘AUNDING TRE

INGDOM

IT'S OURTIME

THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1, 2000, and February 28, 2001

PeSsenee

Excluding Kingdom Project See page 3 for details

a, [T]he Divine religions, the holy precepts,

the heavenly teachings, are the unassailable basis

of human happiness. ...” —Abdu’l-Baha

[Page 2]

ALMANAC

Anniversary of the Declaration of the Bab A Baha’i Holy Day

• Observed sunset May 22 through sunset May 23; devotional gatherings should be two hours after sunset May 22

• Work is to be suspended

“With this historic Declaration the dawn of an Age that signalizes the consummation of all ages had broken. The first impulse of a momentous Revelation had been communicated to the one “but for whom,” according to the testimony of the Kitib-i-Iqin, “God would not have been established upon the seat of His mercy, nor ascended the throne of eternal glory.”

—Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 7

Anniversary of the Ascension of Baha’u’llah A Baha’i Holy Day

• Observed sunset May 28 through sunset May 29; devotional gatherings should be at 4 a.m. daylight time May 29 (3

a.m. where standard time is in effect)

• Work is to be suspended

“Six days before [Baha'u'llah] passed away He summoned to His presence, as He lay in bed leaning against one of His sons, the entire company of believers, including several pilgrims, who had assembled in the Mansion, for what proved to be their last audience with Him. ‘I am well pleased with you all He gently and affectionately addressed the weeping crowd that gathered about Him. ‘Ye have rendered many services, and been very assiduous in your labors. Ye have come here every morning and every evening. May God assist you to remain united. May He aid you to exalt the Cause of the Lord of being.”

—Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 222

Some significant dates in Baha‘i history May and early June

May 23, 1844: ‘Abdu’l-Baha, eldest son of Baha'u'llah, was born in Tehran, Iran. In His later years, though designated as the Center of the Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Baha told the Baha’is not to celebrate His birthday, especially as it fell on the same day as the Declaration of the Bab.

May 9, 1863: Baha’u’llih and His family, with a few dozen companions and guards, began their 110-day journey from Baghdad, Iraq, to Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey.

May 21, 1897: Lua Getsinger became a Baha'i in Chicago, Illinois. Her travels and services for the Faith until her passing May 1, 1916, earned her acclaim as the Mother Teacher of the West.

April 26-May 1, 1919: The Tablets of the Divine Plan, revealed in earlier years by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, were unveiled in a ceremony at the “Convention of the Covenant” in New York City. May 1-6, 1953: The Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, was privately consecrated by the Baha’is, then dedicated ina public ceremony. These celebrations were followed by an Intercontinental Teaching Conference in nearby Chicago, one of several large-scale conferences that called on teachers of the Faith to carry out the plans of the ‘Ten Year Crusade worldwide.

May 28, 1992: The Roll of Honor of the Knights of Baha’u’llah—containing the names of those who opened countries or territories to the Bal aith—was placed in a chamber at the door of the inner sanctuary of the Shrine of Baha’u'llih.

Upcoming Holy Day

• Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bib, July 9

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

15

4} first among young iano students in the olorado Springs

area and the sec in a competition at the University of _ resi Colorado, Pueblo, among 10th through 12th graders. Her competition piece was Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonat

in divers’

A BRODE, a in Durham,

Award by the Durham Human Relations Comr

tions Award Banquet Feb. 15. Brode was honored for her

Council of G Hollywood, ed annually to area Jents who work to incr: faith understanding and promote unity

Scott was honored for her leadership

Christian O’Brien

N ALL THINGS

Suazia At Nosrar Scorr, a in the the Inter-Faith Council, for f from Baha’i in Pembroke which she has served as program presiSprings, Pines, Florida, re- dent and vice president. Colorado, placed first cently received the “Her efforts have brought many in two recent piano David Keating brothers and sisters of various faith: competitions, the " Memorial Award Native American, Hindu, 0 from the Inter- aoe Baha’ ..

of Wilton Manors. “Her experience of intolerance and religious persecution in her native Iran

present

inter

the principle: respect are violated.” @

Other honors:

Aaron Marks, 18, San Rafael, (A: Eagle Scout award.

Christian O’Brien, 15, Montrose, CO: Eagle Scout award.

THE AMERICAN

PUBLISHED BY THE. _ NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAuM’is OF ‘THE UNITED STATES

Baha'i National C y (847- 69-9039)

Editorial (Office of

The American

Editor James Humphrey /

Associate Editor Tom Mennillo

Facilities Manager, Baha’i Media Services Artis Mebane

Contributors Laura Baerwolf, Scott Berndt, Tanya Coelho, Jim Cheek, ‘Sam Conrad, Duane Dickson, Liz Donaldson, Michael Frank, John Kolstoe, Sara Lewis, Barbara McCord, Bob Reddy, Alexander Rehayem, James Rhodes, Phyllis Ring, Kevin A. Sabet, Xcylur Stoakley, Marcia Yeach

“dedication and commitment to civil and human rights advocacy, especially on behalf of people with developmental disabilities.” Accepting the honor before an audience including the mayor, state and local officials and community leaders, she mentioned the Baha’i Faith and briefly quoted the words of Bahs’u'llsh

Corrections —

• In the March 21, 2001, 1, issue of The American Bebé, the article on page 14

headlined “Sailing and Spirituality” misidentified the sponsor of a youth mentoring project. The Spiritual Assembly of Pierce County Peninsula is the sponsor. Also, in the photo above and at the left of the headline, the first two people on the left should have been identified as Alex Greenheck and Gabe Ruiz.

as an inspiration for her civic service.

Comprehensive guidelines for submitting articles

or photos or letters or other relevant materials to The American Baha’i now available on WWW.USBbNE.org Log in with your Baha'i ID number

and click on NSA Departments

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:

July 13 issue: Deadline May 29 _ August 20 issue: Deadline July 3

PLEASE ADDRESS ALL TEMS for possible publication to The American Baba’, 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (e-mail »

oT oO EC CIn are eu ace POMOC e ce or

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

Page 2

Tne American Banh'l < Atmanac/Excetuence m Aut Tunas

April 28, 2001 [Page 3]

King Day events sound

call for unity

aha’i communities around the coun try comtinue to support the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and to use the federal holiday commemorating him to proclaim the Baha’i principles of unity among the races and elimination of prejudice. Here are some of the efforts from this year’s celebrations.

Lane County, OR

Whether planning, performing or present, Baha’is in Lane County were major supporters of this year’s King Day activities.

H.O.N.E.Y. Inc. (Honoring Our New Ethnic Youth), a local organization founded in part by Eugene, Oregon, and Sarah Ross, hosted its tyle MLK Day event. nization aims to assist interies and build on the potential jal children.

of interra

“We found that most community events don’t pacorporate acti for families,” S ‘aS

MLK celebrat potluck, children’s activit and

annual

‘community College Black Student id the Northwest Youth Corps, crowd of almost 200 to the Youth

A. spec Corps voluntee

ing more ana King. n the ma Morris-Collin, a Uni

Robin at the w School,

in room, profess y of Oregon Li

WEARE | FAMILY ~ BAHAI FAITH

Ehsan Bayat (left) and Abbas Mabhvash carry the banner for the Baha’i community of Houston, Texas, during this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade through downtown Houston.

d the efforts still needed, especially in recognizing and overcoming white privilege.

Following her talk, the Martin Luther King Unity Band, a group of jazz musicians who come together especially for this nt, performed a moving musical presentation on African-American history.

Information from Marcia Veach

ev

Merced, CA

About 30 area Baha’ adults and youth and the Baha’i Youth Workshop from Stockton took part in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebratior in Merced.

“he multicultural Baha’i contingent, carrying distinctive banners, was a major presence in the march from the train station to the fairgrounds via Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The Baha’i Youth Workshop was one of several groups performing in a program following the march. The youth gave their usual outstanding performance and were very well received.

Information from Duane Dickson

Camp Hill, AL ‘Two Baha'is spoke during a Jan. 13 community-wide King Day commemo

ration at Mt. Lovely Church in Camp Hill, co-sponsored by the Alabama New South Coalition and the NAACP.

Numerous organ including: Alabama Ne bers from T the st Lower nd state offi dents from the Dadeville school system; and local church groups.

David Rhodes, a Baha’i, read a paper on Dr. King’s beliefs. Nina Rhodes, also a talk on the “Vision of

tions participated, South mem

re offic

offered reflections on King’s Information from James Rhodes

Ocala, FL Singing the Hawaiian Unity song while they walked behind their “onen of mankind” banner, the Baha'is of Marion County attracted the attention of onlookers

S

as well as fellow marchers during a King Day march Jan. 15. ‘They were among very few multi-age participants of Hispanic or European decent. In this north central Florida

SEE KING DAY, PAGE 39

Hungry souls visiting Temple need Baha’is who will serve

volunteer greeter at the Bahai House of Worship stands patiently, waiting to iously serve.

All that is left is for the hungry souls and special moments to arrive in their own perfect time.

Here is a true story.

One Saturday in March, an unexpected busload of elderly Muslims from India and Pakistan arrived at the Temple for a visit.

One man from the group sought out a greeter and emphatically asked how the Baha’i religion was doing in America.

He wanted to know because the United States is viewed as a leader around the world and, in looking up to it, people follow its ways.

He was quite distres

ed that some of our cultural “exports” are very disrespectful. He cited behaviors such as children talking back to their parents.

But he felt strongly that the teachings of the Baha’i Faith are better and, in fact, very important. The people of the world badly need the teachings of this Faith.

Therefore, the Baha’is need to be very

An invitation If you would like to find out about the new Summer of Service Program at the Baha’i House of Worship, please contact Pamela Barrett, the House of Worship volunteer coordinator (phone » e-mail

»

For the first time, limited housing assistance is available!

strong, he said, urging us to put more effort into spreading our Faith’s message in the United States.

His plea was one he really wanted us to hear. He repeated it to several of the staff.

He told us he leads Muslim senior tours four times a year and always makes sure they visit the Baha’i Temple.

Fortunately, Baha'is were here to greet his tour that hour.

Particularly in the summer, there are many hours where this is not the case.

Assistance is sorely needed from volunteers who live outside the local area— for greeting, guiding, ushering and other crucial tasks.

Local Baha’fs traditionally have shouldered these and many other responsibilities at the Temple, but they can meet only about half of the 6,500 hours of greeting required.

The Temple needs Baha’is who are willing to volunteer long-term service during summer. A Summer of Service Program is in tial stages.

The Baha’{ House of Worship in Wilmette relies on volunteers to greet and inform close to a quarter of a million visitors a year about the Faith.

Many guests come back and again remark on how moved they are by the beauty, the peace and the Baha’{ message.

A recent survey by the National Teaching Committee indicates that about one-third of these visitors want to know more about the Faith.

They are not just tourists. They want someone with whom they can speak. #

Enrollments

March 2001

wee 102

Since May 1, 2000 ... 1,248

THE FUND

May 1, 2000-February 28, 2001

Contributions received by National Treasurer (excluding Kingdom Project)

Goal for entire year: $27,000,000

Received since May 1, 2000: $14,408,655

53% of year’s

goal was met

83% of fiscal year has passed

April 30, 2001 4

Total cash-basis revenues and expenditures for Baha'i National Fund May 1, 2000-February 28, 2001 (excluding Kingdom Project)

RS CAR 10

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

$21,353,064 Expenditures

(operations, capital and debt payments etc.) Critical projects that could no longer be deferred forced our Baha'i national operations into a cash deficit.

Mail contributions to:

National Baha’i Fund

112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091-2800

Please write Baha'i ID # on check

Redesigned!

Welcome wis

Adduninistrative Web Site

pad of he Baha'is of the United Statos

[Last Content Update: April 8, 200 our Babs TD and Last Name exacdy

cst 3ppeais on your Baha'i 1D Cx

The National Spiritual Assembly’s

Adi trative Web Site has been

redesigned for better readability and reorganized for easier browsing!

Log in with your Bah’ 1D number

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’i * THe SECOND FRONT page 3 [Page 4]

he Universal House of Justice

has said much about the princi ples that advance the process of entry by troops. With respect to the Five Year Plan, the Supreme Institution has called attention to specific strategies, and it will continue to elaborate needs as circumstances require.

We would like to address a few issues already raised by the House of Justice in the light of conditions within this country. These observations are based on several years?

Strategic bservations

on the

• How does the Baha’f community rate

in the light of such factors? What are our strengths and weaknesses?

Who in this country is receptive to the Baha’f teachings? How can potential seekers be identified? What are they interested in?

Is it possible to articulate the Baha’i teachings in a way that can cause large numbers of potential seekers to investigate the Faith?

e 1ve y e ar PI an * How can the elements of the teaching ——«_ process (proclamation, expansion and

consolidation) be effectively linked? In each case we

experience in outreach through the media campaign; numerous studies of the U.S. Baha’ community, administrative institutions and individual _patterns of activity; and consultation of scholarly literature, which helps to place our challenges and opportunities within the context of wider changes in American society.

We know more about the opportunities for growth now than we did five years ago.

Here are some things we know

“The media campaign has irrevocably changed the approach of the

American Baha’i community toward outreach.”

Wilson County, Tennessee, residents of all backgrounds discuss The Power of Race Unity after viewing the national media campaign video at a public meeting sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Photos by Tom Mennillo

have pursued a number of avenues of inquiry, including consulting the Writings and other authoritative guidan researching relevant scholarly literature, surveying Baha’fs and nonBaha’fs, consulting with

various experts, working with local Baha’i communities and, of course, testing media materials and gauging the response.

Our experience affirms that people join or leave religions for sensible reasons. Systematic inquiry can help us understand

about the Baha’i community:

• Between 1968-1998 we had one of

the fastest rates of growth of any religious community, in a period that saw decline in the vast majority of religions. We tell 12 times more people about the Baha’{ Faith on average than our Christian evangelical counterparts. In every objective measure of dedication Bahd’is on average surpass their religious counterparts in other faiths. We express astronomical levels of confidence in our senior leadership. On average per household we give three times more money to religion than other dedicated religious Americans. We spend more hours per week on average in religious pursuits than others. We are as active as anyone generally in charitable giving and volunteering. We like being Baha’is. We think we fit in well. Most of us are more enthusiastic about our commitment than when we joined. ©The overwhelming majority of us think we can do more to serve the Faith and we are willing to do so. We are blessed with the spiritual and material resources to continue to accomplish great tasks.

Here are some things we know about the general population:

• At least 500,000 people will investigate the Faith due to the national

media broadcasts in the next five years, in addition to countless more from other sources.

There is a deep vein of interest in the themes of the Baha’i Faith.

Interest among younger people is surprisingly strong, inviting comparisons with conditions in the late 1960s. Interest among minorities, both native-born and immigrants, is strong in every segment, as our media responses prove.

Religious growth is not a commonplace in America. Only about 6% of religious communities have grown in the past generation. But neither is growth a mystery. It is one of the most studied aspects of the social environment.

Understanding the conditions is not difficult. Agreeing on a course of action that will yield the desired outcome is difficult, as we know from long experience.

We have willing believers and receptive seekers.

Unlike in many parts of the world, we enjoy complete freedom to proclaim and teach the Faith. The Universal House of Justice has already asserted

that the conditions for growth in North America are unparalleled. Herein we explore some issues based on studies we have made.

Learning through practice

The Universal House of Justice noted with satisfaction in the Ridvan B.E. 157 message that “The culture of the Baha’i community experienced a change. ... In a word, [the friends] entered into a learning mode from which purposeful action was pursued.” It follows from this that growth is a rational process.

In a sense, learning means to ask and to find answers to the vast array of questions that challenge us on our path to advance the process of entry by troops.

It was this approach that led to the establishment of the national media campaign. The NTC has steadily pursued a number of basic questions, such as:

• What are the patterns of religious

change and participation in American society? What do these suggest about our opportunities for teaching and growth?

• What factors contribute to growth or to

decline? To high rates of participation? ‘To spiritually healthy communities?

those motivations. s does not mean spiritual forces are not at work. It means we can understand, to some extent, how those forces manifest themselves in practical causes and effects.

‘The media campaign has irrevocably changed the approach of the American Baha’i community toward outreach. With the media campaign, experience in practical implementation was everything.

If seekers did not respond to a program, it did not matter how well it was produced, or how much the Baha'is liked it.

And learning had its result in improving performance.

Attracting and enrolling seekers

Every month, thousands of people are taking a step in investigating the Faith. Some are merely curious, but others are deeply attracted by what they have seen. This is an entirely new phenomenon in our history. It is also just the beginning, for we have barely begun the work of bringing the Faith to the consciousness of our nearly 300 million countrymen.

Generating response is an objective process. It can be understood, it can be mapped and it can be replicated.

page4 THe American BanA’i ¢ NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

April 28, 2001 [Page 5]

NATIONAL

P

Loy ree ETS YT TROEOTR °

AN

Over the next five years, at the present rate, at least 500,000 people will respond to information broadcasts.

That number is the absolute mii mum—it will surely rise as more resources are invested and knowledge increases. As knowledge is accumulated and applied, the process will become more efficient in various ways. For example:

• It will more precisely target groups of

people who are more likely to become

members.

• It will refine the content of the materials and increase their effectiveness.

¢ It will provide a greater variety of effective products to address diverse needs.

• It will make the Internet and other

new delivery systems more central to the process. As is well known, the process used to

create effective proclamation materials

was not haphazard. It involved a cont ion, reflection and ment, including the key strategy of listening to audience feedback during the production process and in the broadcast responses.

The principle of sensitivity to our audiences, applicd in a systematic process of learning and refinement must now inform outreach activities at all levels.

We have heard of nearly 200 souls enrolled direct result of the media campaign, and there may be ore. But our enrollment figures do not show the true potential. The follow-up phase ue that we need to learn

who

, we were challenged to genlarge numbers. Now our challenge is to nurture their interest to the point where significant numbers of inquirers become believers.

‘The National Teaching Committee will devote additional resources to learning about this issue during the Five Year Plan. Of course, this learning process will involve many others who are part of the teaching effort.

Developing community

We tend to think of conve! private encounter with the divin rate from community. After all, fundamentally personal.

But in our experience with s religion has a communal dimension through such issue: ible congregations, the style of public worship, the quality of religious expr ness, the spiritual education of children, joy s, social commitments, good works and the like. Community, in all religions, provides an essential source of spiritual upliftment, human interaction and support, and outlet for service and individual expression.

Community is a center for spiritual attraction.

Successful communities not only will bring many seekers into association with the Baha’fs, but also will inspire greater

jon as

“Our fellow-citizens will be increasingly attracted to any group that can demonstrate a true ability to foster unity in diversity?’

(Above) Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Chamblee, Georgia, use Ruhi materials and a dictionary to deepen on the role of their institution. The Assembly’s members are Cambodian, Vietnamese, Latino, and AfricanAmerican. (Below) Community development need not be all serious, though, as homefront pioneer Kenne Dunson and Chamblee children discover during Race Unity Day activities in nearby Marietta. Photos by Tom Mennillo

numbers of believers to become active and committed servants of the Faith. Although we are a very active community overall, a significant proportion of believers do not f pate in the life of the community. We know this kind of non-participation usually leads to a point where we completely lose contact with them. Many of these individu might be encouraged to partici our local communiti

s were Cl ed by a greater degree of love unity, and encompassed specific ac ties that serve their needs.

Creating successful communities, then, is part and parcel of the growth enterprise.

In ars this principle has become increasingly accepted. A number of communities have achieved such a pattern, linking spiritual mee

and other teaching

and

activi ies, dice and youth classes, and development projects, and strong Feasts and Assembly meetings to result in a new vitality and some growth.

It is not hard to imagine the difference between the reception of a seeker

such a community and that in a community that not yet achieved that level of functioning.

Fostering unity in diversity: its impact on retention

Retention of believers—particularly

challenges. In the past 30 bout half of those who enrolled

in the Faith either never became or did not remain active members of the community re disproportionately members of minori youth and the

lower economic classes

Retention can be tly improved when we allow each individual believer to acquire the fundamental veri: ties of the Faith through systematic training.

Attention to other issues—community, dealing with diversity, and more effective institutional leadership—will also contribute.

sand young people—is one of

Most growth-oriented religions do not emphasize diversity. Indeed, many consciously steer clear of forming congregations made up of people of diverse outlooks and backgrounds. For them diversity is an unwanted complication, whereas for the Baha’fs it is a cherished ideal and divine mandate.

Even though we have real challenges, our community is still far more diverse than most, perhaps more than any other religion, if we consider diversity within local communities as the key. We have welcomed into the fold people of every conceivable background. Substantial diversity can be found with respect to previous religious affiliation, age, education, profession, class and racial/ethnic background. In many respects we comprise an unimagined richness.

To accommodate such diversity, with all the differences of temperament, perspective, expectation, and outlook that it entail no easy ta! of various kinds naturally ari very different people attempt to work to; gether, even when it is towards a shared vis Yet doing so successfully is the very heart of our mission, and is therefore a challenge we must increasingly mas

What we are experiencing now is only indow to the future, for the seekers are far more diverse than our present community. In addition, the 1 and ethnic makeup of the country is undergoing radical change. We are now in the midst of the greatest wave of immigration in our his nly from Latin Within the next few decades, s than half of

is already true in

America. whites will constitute le:

urgent challenges to Amerin society. While most Americans now understand the need for racial tolerance and understanding, there is no consensus on how to go about achieving it. Our fellow- will be increasingly attracted to any group that can demonstrate a true ability to foster unity in diversity.

The rising generation of youth, pre-youth and children

‘elerated growth in the community in the late 1960s coincided with wide social upheaval. It is estimated that a majority of young people coming of age in that period fell away from their birth religion. A record number investigated non-traditional faiths; a record number joined.

his sense of religious independence now strongest among younger Amers. The generation now entering college is the first ever in which a majority says it would con ider joining a faith anity, according to some leading pollsters.

Zens

SEE OBSERVATIONS, PAGE 6

April 28, 2001

COSeS IhigA = AALS Ont

Tue American Band’i * NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

page 5 AU MALAI Sn B ager

[Page 6]

OBSERVATIONS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Most younger Americans now think all religions are equally good.

Many younger seekers find our views on the oneness of religion especially appealing, particularly the fact that we do not denigrate the beliefs of other faith commun:

The receptivity of the younger generation presents a challenge. The average age of a Baha’i today is mid-40s. However, a growing number of younger people are already among new believers. Forty percent of new enrollments in the past 18 months have been of people under 30.

Most religious communities are aging, although some age more slowly (for example, those with higher birth rates or those that retain younger members better).

The problem with an aging community is that it tends to lose vitality and the ability to grow.

Here are some other characte s of the younger generation (up to collegeage) that demonstrate teaching potenti

• It is the largest generation in Ameri

can history (100 million).

• It is the most racially and culturally

diverse generation in our history. Of all age groups it is the most di isfied with current race relationshi and the least prejudiced. « More than 90% expect to go to college—a prospect shared by 70% expect to work as profe 2 They are the more civic-minded, more optimistic, and more observant of traditional moral values than their immediate predecessors (Baby Boomers and Generation X).

They are more favorably disposed toward spirituality and faith, but less conventional in practice (for example, supporting prayer circles but not tradition iS ‘The Universal House of Justice already called our attention to the need to serve the younger generation. In our country the possibilities for success are especially high at this time.

Training and education

With the prospect of hundreds of thousands—perhaps millions—of seekeady facing us, training and eduation loom as urgent areas for development. ‘Training institutes in particular must serve ever-growing numbers of seekers and beli edge, insights and skills needed to ensure growth.

The emphasis on training effective teachers that was a central theme of the Four Year Plan and ‘Twelve Month Plan has led to the availability of a number of courses on teaching. These include institute courses such as “Every Believer is a “Teacher” from the Core Curriculum and “Teaching the Cause” by the Ruhi Institute, as well as cow to teach specific

populations such as Christians and respondents to the media broadcasts. These courses have been well-received, and hundreds if not thousands of friends have taken them. A focused process of learning is necessary, perhaps involving some changes to content or delivery, if the programs are to prove an effective instrument for raising up new teachers.

In this country we have the basic infrastructure for training with a system of some three dozen regional training institutes. All are now in operation offering basic course sequences.

blies, do not attend. This is more true in larger, more diverse communities, where minorities are particularly affected. Courses are only one form of education, of course. We also need to encourage children’s participation in as many aspects of community life as possible. We should give them teaching projects locally, regionally and perhaps even internationally so they can learn to teach by doing, as an apprenticeship process. We might explore how better to include children as leaders and participants in Feast and other activities.

anced programs for expansion in specific areas. This includes action and reflection to improve our performance over time, and integration of various elements under discussion—the media campaign, community building including social and economic development projects, the raising up of teachers of the Faith, and the work of the institutes—in a number of experimental intercommunity sites across the country.

An example of this process can be seen in the Raleigh-Durham area of

“In short, children’s education is integrated with everything else to achieve our objectives of sustained growth and retention.”

No one had to rope these young people into Baha’ activities. (Left) Youths engage in a tug of war at the inesota summer school. (Above) Children sound the bell signaling it’s meal time at the Tennessee summer school. Photos by Tom Mennillo

The challenge is for these institutes to increase their effectiveness over time. Evaluation of materials, needs asses ment, incorporation of new information, focusing on specific populations, and linking of human resource development to outlets for service make for fruitful areas of collaboration among many institutions at the continent national, regional and local levels.

Children’s education

The number of regular children’s and students has increased steadily for more than 10 years, due in no small measure to the development of the Core Curriculum program and a national network of trained teachers that now numbers some 3,000. Today most communities provide regular classes, based mainly on the Core Curriculum. In many cases these are intercommunity efforts.

There is strong evidence that Baha'i school attendance helps communities retain members. But about 40% of chilcording to Local Spirit

dren, a

In short, idren’s education is integrated with everything else to achieve our objectives of sustained growth and retentio: A focus on children’s is powerful incentive to seekers as well. This is already the biggest source of new membership for many evangelical churches, and we know that many who investigate the Baha’ Faith are motivated by the desire to provide their own children with spiritual and moral foundations. We might look for ways to include a large number of nonBaha’ children in our educational process.

education

Creating systematic programs of growth

A focus on growth areas has existed in the national teaching plan for seve! al years now. The Regional Counc’ and the Auxiliary Boards have been active in helping to foster the emergence of multi-dimensional and _bal

North Carolina, where national, regional and local institutions are collaborating on a new experiment for growth. There the Local Assemblies, the Regional Council, Auxiliary Board members and the NTC are working together to put in place all the basic activities necessary for a process of growth, and are working on ways to make them more harmonious, complementary and refinable.

This area represents all the criteria listed by the Universal House of Justi in its recent mes Coun: Its method of goal-setting also reflects the vision of the House of Jus mulation of plans for a few mont time, beginning with limited lines of action and gradually growing in complexity.

Promising trends are beginning to emerge in greater Albuquerque, New Mexico, where an array of complementary initiatives, including proclamation, devotional meetings, firesides,

youth and children’s programs and service projects, are being pursued; greater

|waukee, Wisconsin, where a corresponding pattern is developing

with a great emphasis on intercommu

page 6, THe AMERICAN BAnA’i ¢ NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

April 28, 2001, [Page 7]

nity collaboration; and greater Boston, Massachusetts, where many communities are working together in pursuit of the essential e ments of growth outlined by the Universal House of Justice.

Many other areas are emerging along imilar lines. With the right mind-set may be guided to the point that we eventually see a surge in growth. The number and scale of these intensive projects can be increased and their tiveness continually improved in iccessive Plan. The experimental

‘There are many such examples, of course. The time is right for us take a giant step forward to “create strong Local Spiritual Assemblies which will be the focal centers of Baha’f activity, will exercise their vitally important role in the development of the Faith and will demonstrate their ability to regulate the affairs of their local communities.”

There is also a need for greater alignment among various institutions of the Faith, particularly at the regional and national levels. With new

haps to s ure. These sentiments are clear in our of the community.

While substantial and measurable progress has been shown on a number of fronts, the “all or nothing” advocacy of competing viewpoints some obscures this hopeful fact. The di nation toward agreement might also be seen as a cause for non-participation within the Baha’{ community, as it is in other religions.

It is important to acknowledge areas for improvement, but in so doing we

should also

nature of these collaborations will provide opportunities for judicious but audacious risks; a forum for buil institutional _ rel tionships toward goals; inclu

common approaches sive of — various teaching methods; and more widespread and consistent interaction with the general public. Regional variations will different: k approaches,

example reaching out to different minoriti

Once the process is demonstrated and notable suc achieved, even in just one area, the

is

“There is also a need for greater a among various institutions of the Faith’

Above: Counselor Stephen Birkland (right) greets one of the friends at a December meeting with Baha’is in Salt Lake City arranged by the National Assembly.

Left: Northeastern Regional Council member Joel Nizin maps a concept of collaboration among institutions at a February 2000 consultation on the One Year Plan.

remember the real victories this commu

ignment

ty has experi: enced. As already — stated,

we are one of the few growth religions of the past generation fact almost never

mentioned — in our — discourse about teaching.

According to a recent independently conducted

poll, 28% of Ameri are aware the Baha'i h. Of these, almost a third heard

about the Faith through personal contact with a Baha This number trans

result will be to energize the whole country.

Strengthening the leadership of institutions

Most Bahé’is agree that the Faith has not grown in this country to the degree that it could or should have. In addition to individual teaching, we now te more fully that other eleare necessary to bring about accelerated growth, such as training, effective patterns of community life and institutional

Effective ir

adership. titutional leadership is indispensable to sustained growth— particularly at the local level, as experience abundantly confirms. While institutions do not teach the Faith per s they are responsible for creat ing a “growth-producing milieu”

within which believers and s interact.

For example, many communities have experienced dozens, even hundreds, of seeker calls within the past year due to the media campaign. It can be easily seen that appropriate followup requires more than individual initiative. Teaching activities, training courses, community events etc., must be organized to nurture this interest.

entities in place, such as the Councils and regional training institutes, ther a great need for unity of vision, unity of voice and unity of action, if we are to avoid unnecessary confus or diffusion of effort.

As it stands, we hear that Local Assemblies are often unclear about communications and guidance coming from above. Messages from different institutions often appear contradictory or vague. But a great deal of progress has been made in the past five years, and this progress needs to accelerate.

n, ambiguity

Creating change: building agreement

‘There is no inherent reason the Baha’i Faith cannot grow dramatically in America. We have the dedication, the energy and the organization. We are capable of learning and applying new knowledge. The growing number of seekers demonstrates the vast possibi ties. The pool of potential converts is probably in the millions.

Yet there still appears to be a lag in unifying our plan of growth in the near term. Perhaps it feeds to some extent on long-simmering conflicts over teaching methods and growth strategi

lates into some

12 million adults remarkable record for a group that comprises only .03% of the population.

Let us seek to achieve more than before, but let us not forget that Baha'u'llah has never ceased to guide and confirm this community.

Because no one has ever built the Kingdom, none of us really knows how

commitment to work together. While rly stand committed to consul tion, the objective of consultation must be agreement on solutions to our problems.

Agreement is a spiritual discipline; the object is not to win or to prevail in the exchange, it is to craft a unity of purpose.

This moment requires reconciliation through consultation.

We remember that the Source of all confirmations and blessings is Baha’u’llah. The Universal House of Justice has reminded us that any plan that fails to take into account His power to confirm our efforts is inadequate. No amount of planning, no degree of systematization, and no organizational effort will yield lasting fruit unless we carry His love in our hearts. That love must inform all of our activities, and it will prove the reality and distinctiveness of the new Order that He has created. @

TV schedule

‘Access www.usbnc.org with your Baha'i 1D number and dick on “Media Campaign”

Broadcast schedules for the second quarter of 2001 include ads on:

• WGN Superstation

• MSNBC

• TV Guide Channel

• BET Channel

New video!

xy 1 peaking [Gig GENDER patna

This and all other videos for the media campaign are available to Baha’is nationwide.

Available local-use video: You can order any of these videos from the Baha’i Distribution Service (phone 800-999-9019) for $9.95 each or $48 for a set of all six.

To order any of these in a format to be broadcast on your local station, please contact U.S. Baha’i Media Services (phone 847-853-2352, e-mail

iB

• We Are One

• 1Am a Bahai

• The Power of Race Unity

• The Power of Prayer

• La Fe Bahd’i—Latinos in the

Bahd’i Faith

• Family: Seeds of World Peace

Resources for local teaching

CO Ca oy

www.usbne.org

Access www.usbnc.org with your Baha'i ID number and dick on “Media Campaign”

• The Light of Unity, issue 4: Downloadable newsletter for seekers;

this issue focuses on physical and spiritual health.

• Media campaign brochures.

• Avariety of teaching, training and

fireside development materials.

• Enrollment form for 1-800-22UNITE seeker response system and

tips for your community to make the most of it!

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’i ¢ NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

page 7 [Page 8]

ARISING TO TRAVEL FOR THE FAITH

What a way to retire!

BY JOHN KOLSTOE

lwin Howard had never heard of the ‘aith when he headed for

1972. He was 61 years old, his wife had recently died, and an accident left him blind in one eye with little vision in the other.

But Howard, who now lives in E: South Carolina, was not one sit to b:

He saw an ad for traveling to Panan by bus for $62 and decided to become a world traveler, even though he was alone and legally blind, and had never been out of the country befor

When he got to Mexico City he met some Baha'is who were headed for the ‘Temple dedication in Panama. They were driving a modified school bus and Howard was asked to join them to share expen:

He wasn’t interested in the Baha ‘aith, but he did want an inexpensive way to get to Panama. Not only that, he was strongly attracted to these people. So he went with them.

Howard became _ increasingly impressed with the young people he was traveling with and, incidentally, learned about the Faith.

On their last day in Panama, he enrolled. That was the beginning. of his life of service.

It had taken the group four days to go

At age 61 Elwin Howard wasn’t interested in the Baha’i Faith, but he did want an inexpensive way to get to Panama. That was 29 service-filled years ago.

Elwin Howard (left) gets together at Louis G. Gregory

Baha’j Institute last January with friends Ellen Jor

from Mexico City to Panama and nearly two months to return, because they stopped to teach in every locality along the way, and Howard kept going.

Young Robb McKie joined the group returning from Panama to Mexico City. Despite 40 years’ difference in their ages, Robb and Howard became lifelong friends and have served the Faith together in many interesting ways.

They started a business together in South Carolina. When the business was running successfully, and McKie was married, ‘Howard turned to other forms of service.

But the McKie home remained his home base. He talks of the five McKie

dan, institute co-ad.

trator, and John Kolstoe.

children as his own grandchildren and is proud of what the older ones have done during their years of servic

While serving at the Louis G. Gregory Baha’f Institute in public relations, Howard found a low-cost way to send s regularly to more than 200

press releas newspapers He mentions this not as a point of pride; rather, it is to show what anyone can do with a little thought and effort. ‘Then came a yearning for international teaching. Howard found he could travel and teach with his Social Security income

SEE HOWARD, PAGE 16

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 ity for homefront pio

on localities where Local

Spiritual Assemblies are in numerical or functional jeopardy (in tals), or cities with populations of 50,000 or more and no Local Spirit

Assembly as of carly this year. + Alabama: Dothan, Hoover, Mobile + Arkansas: fort Smith, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Pulaski County Florida: Coconut Creek, Daytona Beach, Hialeah, Melbourne, Miami, Pensacola, Sarasota, Volusia County, West Palm Beach

• Georgia: Nbany, Baldwin County,

Decatur, Fort Valley, Hall County,

Kennesaw, Macon, Milledgeville Kentucky: Murray, Owensboro Louisiana: Bossier (iy, Kenner, Lake Charles, Honroe

Maryland: Annapolis, Takoma Park North Carolina: Concord, Gastonia, Kernersville, Thomasville Oklahoma: Broken Arrow, Delaware County, lawton, Mayes County, Midwest City, Moore, Shawnee,

Vinita South Carolina: Adams Run, Chester, Georgetown County,

Kingstree, Lydia, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston, Oconee County, Orangeburg, Pendleton

Tennessee: Clarksville, Jackson

• Texas: Addison, Baytown, Bedford,

Benbrook, Beaumont, Brazoria County, Bryan, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, Galveston, Highland Village, Killeen, Laredo, Longview, McAllen, Mesquite, Odessa, San Angel, Tyler

+ Virginia: Danville, Lynchburg, Portsmouth, Suffolk

+ West Virginia: Huntington

Oak Ridge, Tennessee's fiv

and six children in the Baha’i

community would welcome friends to this town of 27,000 in

eastern ‘Tennessee, a culturally and educationally dive Oak Rid and production facilities and envi

e community.

ge has nuclear research

ronmental research along with information technology and i i We have

techni

rse small b

sity of within 25 miles. Gulfport, Florida, is a sleepy old beach community on Boca Ciega Bay

th excellent transportation and population of 13,000 including five adult Baha’

retirement residences kerd Coll

thrive. College of Stetson Unit

nearby, and

si

St. Petersburg Jr. College. New ation center,

senior center, r

simplicity of life and great outer

islands with attractive beaches.

Please contact the Southern

onal Traveling Teaching and Homefront Pioneering Coordinators listed at right.

Western States ‘The Regional Council has three main criteria for Assembly goals: saving jeopardized or lapsed

iblies in

(marked * below).

rizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyor

Priority is on

Goal localities include the following (complete list on

ww

susbne.org).

For communities on Indian reservations (marked with “), contact the American Indian

regional traveling teachin,

ator list

front pioncering coor ed at right.

• Arizona: Apache Junction, Bapchule

District”, Buckeye, Chino Valley, Clarkdale, Cochise Co. SW, Cottonwood, Ely, Goodyear, Nibito Chapter’, Kingman, Surprise, Toleson, Whiterver; Assembly communit seeking support: Houck Chapter’. Idaho: (aldvel, Fort Hall Indian Reservation*, Kootenai Co, Meridian, Twin falls, Assembly community seek

ing support: Ada County.

Montana: Blackleet Reservation’, Crow ‘Agency’, Fathead Reservation*, Great falls, Hae, Kalispell, Lewis and Clark Co,, Northern Cheyenne Reservation”, St. Ignatius, Yellowstone (0, Assembly communities seeking support: Bilings, Bozeman, Butte-Siver Bow, Helena, Missoula o,, Raval (o.

Nevada: Boulder City Churchill Co, Lyon o,, Pahrump, Winchester Township

New Mexico: Artesia, Deming, Grants, Jicaila Apache Reservation*, Los Lunas, Lovington, Luna Co., Hountainair, Rio Arriba Co, Shiprock Chapter*, Socorro; Assembly community seeking support: Doiia Ana Co. Central

Utah: Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, La Layton, Midvale, Ogden, Roy, UintahOuray’; Assembly community seeking support: West Valley City Wyoming: Casper, Cody, Laramie (0, Newcastle, Rock Springs, Weston Co., Wind River Reservation"; Assembly communities seeking support: Cheyenne,

Laramie California: 11 goal communities, induding 15 Assembly communities seeking support. Colorado: 16 goal communities, including 9 Assembly communities seeking support. Oregon: 23 goal communities, incding

II Assembly communities seeking support. Washington: 44 goal communities, induding 16 Assembly communities seeking oppor,

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

The Office of Pioneering is eager to assist the friends preparing for international information regarding jobs and study abroad,

vice. For

or international traveling teaching opportunit the Office neering, Baha’i National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847733-3508, e-ma » Answers to frequent questions about serving

y are posted on the Web

ties and other events, please cont.

of

international

(wwwaisbneorg, NSA Departments).

¢ 32 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’

(phone e-mail ). inquire about traveling teaching, contact

the traveling teaching coordinator, D

Rouse Kaufman (phone »

Central States To inquire about locating as a bomefront pioner, contact the Central Regional

Council secre

e-mail ). To inquire about traveling teaching, contact

the appropriate state traveling teaching coor

ple on www.usbne.org in the Regional Councils section) or contact

|, e-mail

n Ray (phone

).

Western States To inquire about locating as a homefront pioner or about traveling teaching, contact the

appropriate traveling teaching-homefront pio neering coordinator for each state (list avail able on wwwausbne.org in the Regional

‘Traveling teaching: Jan (phone , e-mail ). Homefront pioneering: Flor Toloui,

, e-mail For information on American Indian

(phone

reservations, contact the American Ind

regional traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator, Helen Kiely, (phone

, e-mail ).

Southern States inquire about locating as a bomefront pio

neer, 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 f

e-mail ¢

Page 8

Tue American BanA’i * NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

~ Apri 28,2001 [Page 9]BAHA’T? DISTRIBUTION’ SERVICE

An Agency of the National Sp

EVP CST lial) el mC FU

The Priceless Pearl Amatu'l-Babi Ribtyyih Khanum $18.95 SC (PP)

$29.95 HC (PPHC)

Khanum’s passing. She was very happy that thi

‘This is a wonderful new printing of the biography of the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. Work was initiated some months before Amatu’l-Bahd Ruhfyyih book would again be available to the friends—particularly the new generation of believers—to inspire and stimulate them with its definitive account of the life of their Guardian and his 36-year ministry as the head of the Cause of God. The new edition, designed by Amatu’l-Bahé Ruhfyyih Khénum herself, is illustrated with 75 photographs, comprising those in the first edition and those in the 1988 book The Guardian of the Baha’ Faith.

Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab Commemorative Stamp and Leaf created by the Philatelic Service Department of the Israel Postal Authority

$4.00 (STAMP)

In recognition of the completion of the ‘Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, the Philatelic Serv Department of the Israel Postal Authority ha a commemorati f which includ description of the $ written in English. Although the stamp itself will be

issued

released in April the commemorative stamp and leaf

souvenir will not be able until May 15. It should

orders are now “he souvenir leaves will be printed your order now to

dle of June 2001. However, advan bein; cepted only once. Pl

receipt of this

sure your storic collector's i

The Institution of the Counsellors A Document Prepared by the Universal House of Justice $4.95 SC (IC) This digest will increase the ’ understanding of the s of the Counselors

COUNSELLORS:

Administrative Order. It includes an ove: components of the institution and their du with statements addressing aspects of its functioning. 6'nx 9”, 48 pp.

B K IN STOC

Marriage: A Fortress

for Well-Being

$12.95 SC (MFWBS)

An examination of the Baha’i teachings on marriage in the light of God’s purpose for humanity. Presents the Baha’ belief that marriage is based on the submission of both partners to the will of God, Who intended marriage to be “a fortress for well-being and salvation.” Provides guidelines for applying spiritual principles to the realities of daily life and for nurturing a union that is fundamentalritual and based on the Baha’f writings.

5!h” x 81h”, 86 pp., table of contents, foreword, bibliography, index

call B

DS

Kitab-i-iqan The Book of Certitude KI nk Lan Baha'u'llah Be

ea

$3.95 PS (KIP)

$15.95 HC (KIH) Baha’u’llah’s expl: tenets of the

ion of the basic ith and of the continuity of religion as it has been revealed throughout the ages. Thi: unity of the Prophets, the unit Message, the identity of their fundamental teachings, y of their scriptures, and the twofold char

book “: affirms the

used misunderst rmed by Shoghi E written on the spiritu: should be “

4'4” x7”, 274 pp., foreword, glossary and notes, index

Prayers and Meditations Baba’u'lldb

$3.95 PS (PMP)

$15.95 HC (PM)

election of nearly 200

ching and deepening. Shoghi that perusing this “precious volume will help to deepen, more than any other publication, the spirit of devotion and faith in the friends, and thus

charge them with all the spiritual power they require for the accomplishment of their tremendous duties

towards the C: 53/4” x 83/4", 347 pp., index

The Seven Valleys Wisi

and The Four Valleys i Boas Oe on Babd’w'llih 2

Co

Tish Talc)

$3.00 SC (SVEVS) $7.95 HC GVEVH)

nt. The ges the soul must

to God. The Four ays in which the Unseen is of the human heart, and the four ers seeking the Intended One.

rse in its quest to dr: Valleys explains the four seen, the four kinds of mystic v Ahh

x 634”, 65 pp., contents, preface

toll free 800

| exciting, ageless sto _ these tales of the heroes and heroines who gave

_ sense of the rich and dramatic spiritual heritage o} all who call themselves Baha’is today. Includes a —

| 9” x7”, 156 pp.

| $9. 95 SC (ASP)

Le]

of the United States

Ali’s Dream

The Story of Baha'u'llah Joln Hatcher

illustrated by Mary Holveck $22.95 SC (ADS)

‘The story of Ali, an 11-year-old boy living in ‘Akk4 in 1912, whose life becomes quest for the meaning of a dream. The dream | him to an understanding of his Bahd’f heritage and his spiritual destiny. Author John Hatcher (The Law of Love Ensbrined, The Ocean of His Words: A Reader's Guide to the Art of Bahd’u'lléh) weaves scenes and fascinating details of the history of the Faith, drawing from them universal truths about sacrifice, suffering and the spiritual qualities and ideals required in growing up.

6” x 9”, 333 pp., table of contents, glossary,

maps, sources

Children’s Stories from the

Var

Dawn-Breakers story by Zoe Meyer illustrated by Winifred Barnum-Newman $19.95 SC (CSEDB)

‘This richly illustra ed edition of thirty

ries tells of the amazing events surrounding the birth of the Baha’f Faith from 1844-1850. Children of all ages will enjoy —

their lives for what they believed in. Adapted from _ Nabil’s The Dawn-Breakers {$29.95 HC (DB)}, the stories are perfect for reading aloud and convey ;

glossary of symbols found in the illustrations.

A Story of Peace

For the Children of God

_story by Kiser Barnes

illustrated by Fabimeh Meidani-Sliney

"This book for youth and

9019

April 28, 2001

Tne American BanA’i ¢ BanA’i DistRiBuTION SERVICE

page 9 [Page 10]BAHA’I*«DISTRIBUTION*SERVICE

BSTC (eI EW ev (aa)

ve of the spirit! paras tells us a woman spoke the first words of the Revelation to him:

My face, [bebeld a Maiden—the embodiment of _ the remembrance of the name of My Lord. ... ™ In this

_ series of four essays, author Terry Culhane attempts to the meaning of the image of the Maiden in discussion of feminine presence in the itings of the Bahd’{ Faith. With sensitivity

, Culhane explores key symbols found in

| writings—symbols that connect the reader to the life of the spirit, - the foundation for all Baha’{ notions of the Covenant, the Baha’

Commonwealth, human knowledge, spiritual journey and modern life.

8! x 5!h, 143 pp., illustrations, bibliography

na Be Islam and the Baha’i Faith DT Moojan Momen EMC $18.95 SC (IBF)

An introduction to the Baha’f Faith for Muslims. ‘The Baha’f Faith has its roots in Islam yet many Muslims lack accurate information about this fastgrowing religion. Dr. Moojan Momen, widely published author in the field of world religions, uses the authoritative Sunni collections of Traditions and draws on Islamic prophecies to explain the Baha'i Faith from an Islamic perspective. He describes the Baha’{ view of the Prophet Muhammad and of Islam, the spiritual and ethical teachings of the Baha’ Faith in comparison to Islam, and much more. Easy to read and full of useful information, this book will also be-helpful to Bah4’f’s who want to see how their religion relates to Islam.

84” x 5'2”, 293 pp., bibliography, references and notes, index

New From Bah4@’i Distribution Service ;

| Beheld a Maiden

Substance Abuse:

A Baha’i Perspective

A-M. Ghadirian, M.D.

$3.00 SC Booklet (SUAB)

‘This clear, easy-to-understand booklet is now available to the general public and professionals. The booklet provides accurate, up-to-date information about diverse addictive substances that are widely abused, including alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, marijuana and heroin. Dr. Ghadirian considers the spiritual and emotional toll as well as the social costs of substance abuse. Most importantly, he points the way to help families and communities become free of substance abuse.

8h” x 5'h”, 32 pp., references

Baha’i Essentials uae Dr. Steven E. Ellis ree $16.00 SC (BENB)

A study course on the fundamentals of the Baha’f Baha’i Faith for consolidation of new believers and BA ats youth. Twenty-six subjects are available for study in the book based only on suggestions made by Shoghi Effendi or the Universal House of Justice. These subjects include the fundamental verities or essential beliefs upon which the Baha’f Faith is based; the principles of man’s spiritual reality; the personal laws related to marriage, divorce, alcohol and drugs; the purpose of the Faith in establishing the unity of mankind; the origins, aims, purposes and processes of its divinely appointed Administrative Order; and more. Dr. Steven E. Ellis utilizes a study process combining the best in learning from the Personal Transformation Program, the Core Curriculum, _ Ruhi materials, the Talking Circle and other sources. Includes guidelines for self-study and information for sponsoring agencies and facilitators.

8'h” x 11”, 219 pp., appendices

The Half-Inch Prophecy

William Sears $6.00 SC (HIP)

“The Prophecy that shook the World!” This is how William Sears describes the subject of this a ing story of the fulfillment of a single half-inch-long Bible prophec “In that day also he shall come even to thee from As-syr’i and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress the river, and from the sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.” (Micah 7:12) Very different in its approach to The Bible from Mr. Sears’ widely read Thief in the Night, this is an exciting read in his easy style.

414” x 7's”, 156 pp., prologue, references, bibliography

Arana Prophecy §

Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Baha’u’llah

Nader Saiedi

$23.95 SC (LO)

Nader Saiedi addresses key controversies in the current academic literature about Baha’u’ll4h’s writings. The author approaches the subject from sociological, historical, philosophical, spiritual and theological perspectives and draws on the vast body of previously untranslated original Persian and Arabic texts. “I know of no other work offering as penetrating an insight into some of Bahd’u’llih’s writings such as the Kitab-i-Iqin, Sahifiy-i-Shattfyyih (Book of the River), and the Kitib-i-Badi*, the latter two being almost totally unknown in the West.”

— Heshmat Moayyad, professor of Persian language and literature, University of Chicago

6” x 91/4”, 408 pp., introduction, index, references

Investigate Baha’u’llah J. Peter Smith

$2.50 SC (IBS)

Author J. Peter Smith prese designed to allow anyone to station of Bahd’u'llah. A perfect introduction to the Baha’t aith, Investigate Babi’u “db is an excellene resuiinee 16h easily and teaching the Bah’ Faith with people of other religious denominations.

Investigate Baha'u'llah

and answers 36 questions

5'h” x 81h”, 20 pp.

La Fe Baha’i

(Spanish, two-color, tri-fold pamphlet)

25 Pack $1.95 (SLFB25)

This two-color introduction to the Baha’{ Faith is printed in sh and is perfect for giving to seekers. Available in packs of 25.

63/4” x 344”

Conuaridad Mundial

La Fe Baha’i Y Su

Comunidad Mundial

(Spanish, full-size, two-color, tri-fold pamphlet)

10 Pack 1: $4.00 2-4: $3.50 5+: $3.25 (SFBM10)

‘This pamphlet is the Spanish edition of The Babd’s Faith and Its World Community. Available in packs of 10. 8'kn” x 33”

page 10 Tne American BanA’i * BanA’i DistRIBUTION SERVICE April 28, 2001 [Page 11]

booklet conveying the teachings, toe and activities of the worldwide Baha’i community. Written in an informative, objective style, it is especially suitable for presentation to local officials, journalists and others who need complete but concise information about the Faith. 84” x 1074", 80 pp., color photos, charts, _maps, further reading

Baha’i Holy Places In Israel images by Denny Allen '

$20.00 CD-ROM (BHP) New

One hundred forty-four stunning images of the Baha’{ holy places from ‘Akka to Haifa. Includes historic sites around ‘Akka, the Prison, the House of ‘Abbiid, the Mansion at Mazra‘ih, the Ridvin Garden, the mansion at Bal he Shrine of Baha’u’llah, the House of ‘Abdu’llah Pash, the Haifa Pilgrim House, the Monument Gardens, sites on Haparsim Street, the Arc buildings, the Terraces and the Shrine of the Bab.

Mystical Realities: The Bab and Quddus, Series 2

Inspiring Stories of The Bab’s Revelation A Minnesota Baba’t Institute Recording $16.00 (MR2BQCD)

Set to a backdrop of beautiful Persian music, this spoken-word CD conveys the history and mystical realities of the Baha’{ Faith. With historical documentation, it depicts similarities between the lives of early Christians and those of the Babis. This magnificent story tells of a Manifestation of God (the Bab) who appeared in 1844. The actual events of these mystical realities will stir your heart and lift your soul.

Total time: 69:21 minutes

From My Heart

Farzad Khozein

$15.00 (FMHCD)

The selections on this CD are an exquisite mixture of Eastern, Western and classical music styles. Entirely instrumental, it is appropriate as background music for Feast and Holy Day observances. This relaxing, uplifting collection includes original compositions and modified Persian folkloric interpretations.

Total time: 46:30 minutes, 10 tracks

The Baha’is CD-ROM Regularly $19.95, NOW $5.95 (BCDR)

‘The Baha'is CD-ROM is a professional multimedia presentation of the Baha Faith containing all of the material printed in the original magazine, The Baha'is, and also contains a suggested reading list of Sacred Text and . commentary based on the Writings that can be viewed on screen or printed ~ out in its entirety. The Kitéb-i-Aqdas, The Promise of World Peace, plus 10° additional books and 25 minutes of video. Features active links that expand on selected topics, including Web-site links and help screens. Incorporate the latest in information age technology into your teaching — efforts and reach those seekers whose computers are their source of foe information.

Kitab-i-Ahd: Book of the Covenant

A Class at Bosch Baha’i School with Derek Cockshut Video $19.95 (EKAN) Cassette $6.95 (KACS)

Baha’{ historian Derek Cockshut covers the Kitab-i-Ahd (translated from Arabic as “Book of the Covenant”)—the Will and ‘Testament of Baha’u'llah. This tablet is one of the most important documents revealed by Bahd’u'llah and is unique in religious history. In this study class, Cockshut explains the historical and religious background and some of the implications and significance of this document. Total time: 61 minutes

Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

A Class at Bosch Baha’i School with Derek Cockshut Set of 2 Videos $39.95 (EWTABN) _ Set of 3 cassettes $19.95 (WTABCS)

Baha’ historian Derek Cockshut goes through ‘Abdul-Baha’s Will and Testament paragraph by paragraph, explaining historical and religious background and some of the implications and significance of the document. Every student of the Baha’f Faith will find this study class informative and invaluable.

Total time: 192 minutes

Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum,

1910-2000

7.95 (EABRKN)

This is the commemorative video of the funeral ceremony at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa for Amatu’l-Bahé Rihiyyih Khanum Rabbini—daughter of May and Sutherland Maxwell, who became the wife of Shoghi Effendi in 1937 and was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952. Produced by Baha'i Media Seryices.

Total time: 17 minutes

' SHIE TO. CODE TITLE QUANTITY | COST EACH | TOTAL | : '

'

'

'

'

i

DAYTIME TELEPHONE #( —) '

BILLTO : 4

1

i

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) SAVES TAX '

CREDIT CARD # SALES TAX: SHIPMENTS TO GEORGIA ADDRESSES APPLY : APPROPRIATE SALES TAX TOTAL i

EXP. DATE SIGNATURE Hy Baha’i Distribution Service * 4703 Fulton Industrial Bivd. * Atlanta, GA 30336 ;

1

NAME AS IT APPEARS ON CREDIT CARD [ call us * 800-999-9019 + toll-free |:

April 28, 2001 Tue American BanA’t * BanA’i DisTRiBuTION SERVICE page II [Page 12]

TRAINING

INSTITUTES

Study circles deliver on promise to aid individuals, communities

BY TOM MENNILLO

na few short years, the study circle

has established itself as a remarkably

effective delivery system for training institute courses across the United States.

Adults and youths alike, in metro and rural areas, have found this combination of small-group study, fellowship and service to be ideal.

They've grown as individuals and, in turn, helped advance their communities—arisin; service to the Cause, to each other and to humanity.

The impact readily can be seen in a few stories from regional training institutes (and in one a loc: ‘itute):

Minnesota RTI; Growing closer in fellowship

Rebecca Brannan participated in study circles abroad before she began tutoring a circle of Ethiopian immigrants in the ‘Twin Cities two years ago.

“It helped these Ethiopian friends to become more involved in their community and us involved with them,” said Brannan. “It helped with English guage acquisition as well as furthering their understanding in the Faith.

“We did service together (held a race

unity dinner) as well as fellowship activities (played games and planned dinners together).” More recently, Brannan has been volved with two other study circles. One has tackled the Ruhi Institute’s Book One (Reflections on the Life of the Spirit) and the other Book Six (Teaching the Cause).

“The Book Six circle has been the best because I have brought all my | and experience—from mistakes—with me,” she said. “It has had a large impact on us. ... Along with our study, we go rollerblading, have dinners, clean the Baha’i Center, deliver turkeys to the elderly for holidays, and have game nights.”

Also, said Brannan, “We have long discussions about the Writings and I think all involved would rave about the impact on us. I can see more impact taking place as time goes on, since we all feel happier to be a part of our intimate group.”

Best of all, “We feel happier and more willing to enter the Baha’i Center because we feel we have a comfortable place socially already established among ourselves,” she said. “We have been careful to invite other people to our fellowship and service activities, so we don’t become exclusive, and so we can invite our non-Baha’i friends.

“Soon we will start role-playing teaching skills so as to improve them. I think with time we will all become more comfortable with teaching and then things will really get rolling.

&

“I think each member has taken on more of a responsibility for offering service, too.”

Her experience is echoed by Orkideh Mohajeri, a member of the training institute board.

“Ruhi materials have been in our area for several years at least,” she said. “During the past year, things have seemed to advance and there is increased activity with these materials.

“Core Curriculum is wel ablished in our state, with lots of trained tutors

request of the Pupil of the Eye Institute, a Baha’t initiative.

very other Saturday a potluck dinner. is held in the home of a recently declared Baha’i who not too long ago was homeless.

Following dinner is study, said Shirley Hayes Ganao, a member of the Crimson Ark Regional Training Institute board. ‘The participants—economically, ethnically and educationally diverse—have tackled “Understanding the Baha'i Writings,” “Prayer” and “Life After

Above: Yvor Stoakley, Karen Bent and Merrick Miller study after refreshment. Upper right of page: In the same session in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Colin Bodan points out a passage in the text under the tutelage of Kevin Brisport. Photo by Xcylur Stoakley

and courses being offered on a regular basis. In the past year, there was a convergence of trained Ruhi tutors who either moved back into our state or moved here for the first time.”

Some study circles have focused on junior youth, some have focused on immigrant believers, and others have just focused on the membership of a local community. Brannan hopes to start a study circle on spiritual education of children, aimed at including non

Our dearly loved Counselor, Stephen Birkland, is a member of a study circle in his own small local community,” Mohajeri said.

‘The institute itself, she added, plans to experiment more with study-circle-style learning with a broader variety of study materials. “We are setting up processes for discussion, consultation, refle and evaluation,” Mohajeeri said.

Crimson Ark RTI: From study toward action

Beyond the halls of government and the glittery parties of Georgetown lies a Washington, DC, that few tourists see.

And in Southeast, one of these “other Washington” neighborhoods, a study circle thrives.

The circle was established at the

Death.” At some point the study circle hopes to start a small service project in Southeast, Ganao said.

Service is the hallmark of three other study circles overseen by Crimson Ark a couple of hours up the road in D said Deborah Hougland of the board.

In 1998, participants in the first Reflections on the Life of the Spirit study circle i New Castle County North approached the Commission on the Status of Women at the University of Delaware.

‘The university accepted their offer to prepare a traveling exhibit featuring the lives of Téhirih and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the events at the 1848 conferences at Badasht and at Seneca Falls, and a timeline of the women’s movement.

In fact, the Baha’fs were invited to be on the planning committee for the university’s weeklong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention and the women’s movement.

‘The 20-panel exhibit turned out to be the centerpiece of the celebration, seen by more than 1,000 people as it was displayed at seven locations on campus. Since then, it has been displayed at the library of Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, the Women’s Conference and Expo in Baltimore and other venues.

The second story is about a Bahda’i youth who graduated from the University of Delaware in 1999. She participated in Reflections on the Life of the Spirit and Arise to Serve study circles in 1999 in the Newark, Delaware, area.

This young Baha’i was moved to arise and serve the Cause, traveling through many countries in Asia, Australia and— since February 2000—Africa. Her study circle and Baha’i community became partners in her service by deputizing her.

Hougland said the youth’s service to the Cause is a source of inspiration for her friends back in Delaware, who are regularly treated to her wonderful stories of teaching and service through her moving e-mails.

In the third instance,

a young Bahd’t

enrolled in July 2000, was trained in the Reflections course, and soon began service at Nancy Campbell Coleg

ite Institute, a Baha’i-owned and -operated secondary school in Ontario, Canada.

Chicago RTI: New vitality blossoms

‘The potential of study circles for creating a “new dynamic” was highly attractive to the Chicago Regional Training Institute and the Auxiliary Board members serving Illinois, said Yvor Stoakley, an institute board member.

A year ago, Auxiliary Board members Bill Wieties and Bill Smits encouraged their assistants to prepare to establish and support study circles. The regional institute was asked to organize a series of courses to train tutors to facilitate study circles on Ruhi materials.

‘This collaboration between the Auxiliary Board and the regional training institute has spawned more than a dozen study circles in the Chicago area.

One circle, now a year old, includes four believers who had enrolled within the past 12 months but begun to withdraw from Baha’f activities

‘Two lacked what the circle’s tutor describes as a “support network” within the community. Another, despite having recognized Baha'u'llah, had received very little factual information about the Faith. A fourth had declared his belief in Baha’w'llah, but continued to practice the routines of his prior faith tradition.

After six ions, the tutor said, all members of the study circle were regularly attending the Nineteen Day Feast and other core Baha’ tivities, were serving on community committees, were reaching out to other Baha’is and were seeing each other socially.

“You would laugh with joy,” the tutor reported, “to see how wonderful Feast has become. ‘Two members of our study circle and another newly activated Baha

SEE STUDY CIRCLES, PAGE 13

page 12

Tne AMERICAN BanA‘i ¢ NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

April 28, 2001 [Page 13]

Veteran tutors: Try it, you'll like it

BY TANYA COELHO AND SCOTT BERNDT

W: first. got involved with Ruhi study circles shortly after we declared in the summer of 1997.

We were Peace Corps volunteers on the Caribbean island of Dominica, and Connie Astaphan, a local Baha’{, led a Ruhi study circle as a literacy group. We started going to support her efforts but zed we got a lot out of the group, too, so we participated in more study circles and then went through a tutor training.

Though we valued the experience the time, we didn’t realize until recendy how important it was in helping us fall in love with the Writings and understand what it means to be a Baha’i.

On Jan. 1, 2000, we kicked off the Ruhi study circle in St. Paul, Minnesota. Even though we didn’t feel prepared to be the tutors, we happened to be the only ones in the community who had been through tutor training.

We had heard that lots of American Baha'is tend to shy away from the Ruhi method because they feel it’s too simple and is more appropriate for new believers, so we warned our fellow collabora

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

orchestrated a ‘getting to know you’ game at the last Feast. It was so unifying and fun.”

Another example of the impact study circles can have comes from a Chicago-area couple that teamed up to facilitate a study circle starting last July 9, the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab.

Bah: and seekers alike partici The tutors report they have been so invigorated by the process and by the transformation they have seen in participants, including themselves, that they have established a second study circle.

Nine individuals, including _ five youths, have expressed an intention to participate in the second study circle on a regular basis.

“We both feel that we are actually starting to function as assistants [to the Auxiliary Board member] when we engage in this process,” the husband said. “We are both so very grateful for this opportunity to serve and to experience such extraordinary confirmations.”

At least one Chicago-area study circle is facilitated by a youth, and others

pate.

tors of this at the first session and asked that they try a few sessions to determine what they could get out of it.

Sure enough, just as in Dominica, the participants’ backgrounds and experiences have shaped our discussions and we have yet to hear complaints that the material we study is not challenging. Who can say Bahé’u'llih’s writings are not challenging?

In addition to studying the Writings,

we stick with the study circle method by memorizing quotes, doing service, and organizing some sc activities for the

community. That seems to really add to the life of the group.

We have found study circles to be an excellent way for community members of varying backgrounds not only to deepen their understanding of the Writings but to feel closer to each other.

I think the method and content for Ruhi Book One, particular, minimize the distractions of ego and personality that can hamper less-structured deepenings, so it feels like we connect by focusing on the Writings rather than focusing on ourselves and each other.

have youth participants.

Stoakley said the institute board is committed to intensely studying five or six of these study circles over the next year to better understand their potential and the characteristi tain them.

necessary to sus A study circle glossary

Study circle: A relatively small group that gathers to undergo a Baha'i training course, generally guided by a trained tutor and aiming toward an action or service goal. Ruhi Institute: A training institute founded in Colombia that produces highly popular materials for training in memorization, teaching and action based on the Bahd't writings. From early on, study cirdes have been part of Ruhi-style training.

Core Curriculum/Fundamental Verities: A growing body of study materials developed under the direction of the National Spiritual Assembly and available from the National Teacher Training Center (NITC) at Louhelen Baha'i School. The 10 modules developed to date are designed to support systematic training in on teaching children, developing family life, empowering youth, promoting the Bahd'i vision of unity and equality and teaching the Faith in general. These courses have been used successfully in study circles. For more information, contact the NTTC (e-mail \. Training institute: An agency created to train people in specific skills toward furthering the Baha'i teachings. The regional training institutes are agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly administered through the Regional Baha'i Councils; local training institutes are agencies of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Tutor: A Baha'i trained to facilitate the learning in a study cirde in a spirit of loving service. Tutors often will be receiving continued training even as they offer training.

Four Corners Bahai Training Institute: The power of example

Study isn’t enough for many of the study circles conducted by this local training institute since November 1999. They are generally infused with a spirit of love and hospitality, and then th members act to spread that loving spirit, according to Nancy Applin, an institute board member.

The first one, in Durango, Colorado, engaged six to 12 people studying the Ruhi Reflections book. They included a child, who was very active in memoriz

Our group has gotten smaller over the past year, as people got too busy to continue or moved to serve the Cause in other parts of the world, but we have a core group of regulars and a few new faces, too.

One challenge we've had is that many people who have not come to the study group are still not sure what a study circle entails, and I think some people may still be put off because they’ve heard negative things about Ruhi.

Some are apprehensive because they've heard we memorize quotes. We do, but we try to make sure nobody feels pressured or embarrassed if they don’t memorize something on the spot.

We plan to revisit the subject of study circles at an upcoming Feast to talk about the distinction between method and content, the importance of all four components (study of the Writings, service, socializing and memorization), and the recommendation that study circles be connected to regional training institutes.

And we want to reassure people that they are welcome to join us and will not be graded on their memorization skills! @

ing passages from the Writings and answering the questions.

The circle’s first service project, with the help of several Durango and La Plata County Bahd’is, was staging a lunch for 30 women who were Habitat for Humanity volunteers. The guests marveled at the Baha’i_ men who were there to serve women.

The study circle later organized an Eritrean-style dinner to raise money to send a woman to an East Coast conference ues of the African peoples.

Another Reflections study circle, involving six to 12 Baha’is from in and around Farmington, New Mexico, was characterized by its warm love and fellow» Applin said. Members made beautiful cards for the and isolated in their communities, and later made prayer beads for participants and their friends.

Several participating youths became much more skilled at memorizing passages from the Writings and “seeking to understand the spiritual meanings hidden in the heart of the words.”

And looking to serve the general community, the circle assisted with a Baha'i community’s ongoing commitment to

2

SEE STUDY CIRCLES, PAGE 14

REGIONAL TRAINING

INSTITUTE CONTACTS

Southern States Regional contact: Susan Nossa * Training institutes: Aguila del Cielo Central Teras + Amatu’l-Baha Rahiyyih Khdnum Alabama, Georgia *

Crimson Ark D(, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia ©

Jubilee Tennessee, Arkansas + Magdalene Carney florida, Lousiana, Misssippi +

Mathew Kaszab South Texas * North Texas *

Oklahoma +

Sam McClellan Keatocky *

South Carolina +

Supreme Talisman North Carolina * Tree of Life Houston, Texas *

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

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

Seven Valleys Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming *

Northeastern States Regional contact: Chet Makoski + e-mail Training institutes: Doris McKay Western New York state *

New York Tri State Metro KIC, Northern NJ, Long Island * Sadie Oglesby Eastern New England * Thornton Chase Connnectict River Valley *

William Sears Eastern Pennsylvania *

More on regional training institutes at www.usbnc.org

Access the Administrative Web Site with your Baha'i ID number, click on “Regional Councils,” then link to the Web site for the Council in your region of the country!

April 28, 2001

Te AmerICAN BanA’i * NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

page 13

[Page 14]

STUDY CIRCLES,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

clean up part of a highway entering Farmington.

Yet another Reflections circle, in Montezuma County and Cortez, Colorado, began most of its sessi home-cooked meal in a warm, spiritfilled environment, Applin said.

This study circle had from eight to 15 participants. One of the love and fellowship activities to which many people— Baha’is and others—came was a New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31, 1999, that featured Baha'i writings and prayers and much music, joy and laughter.

Applin said the Four Corners Baha’ ‘Training Institute’s understanding is that study circl ould have a beginning and an end, so participants can commit to a specific amount of time.

When a study circle is over, part pants may go on to another circle studying another book—or may arise to be trained to start study circles in other areas, under the auspices of a regi training institute.

There is interest in starting a study circle in Mancos, Colorado, exploring the book The Resurrection of all Mankind, on how to build bridges between Baha’is and Christians.

Also there is much interest in starting a study circle in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Reservation, and possibly on the Southern Ute Reservation in Ignacio, Colorado.

Magdalene Carney RTI: Tapping the energy of youth Junior youth, ages 12-15, get special attention under the pines system of the Magdalene Carney Regional Tr ing Institute, which serves Florida, Mississippi and Louisi As described by Farah GuchaniRosenberg, the institute coordinator and an Auxiliary Board member, seven to

jana.

Apply now! Vacancies may remain for Spiritual Foundations

tudents 1 1 be accepted for the 2001 session of the four-year Spiritu al Foundations for a Global Civilization program, as long as space lasts!

The application period cl 15, but some vacanci

Principal themes of this year’s classt in Wilmette will be the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual development of the individual and marriage and family life. These themes relate closely to the Building the Kingdom Conference to be held June 28-July 1 in Milwaukee.

Students will also study the m Baha'u'llah, the life of ‘Abdu’l-Baha and His role as exemplar, and the Baha’i writings on spiritual development (especially the Kitab-i-Aqdas).

They will attend workshops on creative writing, researching and teaching the Faith.

eight junior youth study circles are functioning, almost all established in the past few months. They incorporate study, memorization, discussions, skits, storytelling, social/recreational activities and service/teaching initiatives.

The institute is adding to its three core courses, all based on Ruhi Institute books, by developing other courses designed for junior youth study circles.

And there are more distinctions: Junior youth groups are facilitated by youth tutors. And 40 to 50 percent of

participating fully in a circle studying the second Ruhi course.

But members of that circle, embodying the spirit of the course title—Arising to Serve—began ing the homes of new believers and other Baha’is who had lost touch with the community. The new believer was able to peruse some of the Arising course content, and later started firesides at her own home, sharing the themes she learned with her seekers.

Among other examples of action:

• Involvement with other organizations

participants are guests of the Baha’is. in tutoring younger children.

The mixture of isiting elder Baha'i and non- is in retireBaha’ participants “This method (Ruhi) ment home is a feature of most nae ° Participating of the 45 study c relates the Writings to in a drama group cles the Carney their life, which has great called _ the Unity institute oversees, Players in which

Guchani-Rosenberg said. Often, participants enroll in the Faith and « continue with the sequence of courses.

‘This institute has four years’ ence in organizi ng study usually number six to seven participants. It has developed a core sequence of courses, studying the Ruhi books Reffections on the Life of the Spirit, Arising to Serve and The Twin Manifestations.

And the circles generally go beyond study, turning the words into action.

One study circle inspired two believers to team up to offer regular firesides, launched with a dinner party. Invitations have been sent regularly to local people who have responded to 1-800-22UNITE, and prayers have been said daily. As a result, the pair have maintained a goal of at least three seekers, and response to the firesides has been warm and interested.

In another case, a new believer who had contacted the Baha'is through the I800-22-UNITE system promptly joined a study circle and completed the Reflections course. Illness prevented her from

Wilme vee mrt

Distance learning:

Tablets of Baha'u'llah and more Tablets of Baba’wllab Revealed after the Kitab-i-Agqdas, May 15—Aug. 15

Hurry to register for this course, which reviews all major works revealed by Baha’u'llah after 1874 except for the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.

‘These works elaborate on His laws, explore the nature of the mystical life, describe basic theological teachings, and expound on the principles nece: sary for the transformation of human sot

ty. It is one of six Wilmette Institute courses on the writings of Baha’u’lldh.

impact on their hearts.” —John Kerns, NABI tutor

the oneness of the

human race moted.

• Maintenance

of a public display table wwice a month

on the theme of race unity. ¢ Numerous examples of forming per sonal teaching plans.

‘The tutor training process, naturally, is crucial to the success of the circles. Guchani-Rosenberg refers to the tutors as the first group of human resources the institute has raised.

As that process has evolved, the tutors not only have been trained in conducting courses based on various Ruhi books, but also have been meeting periodically to study new guidance and to exchange experiences and ide:

The study circles and tutors are linked through eight area coordinators, plus four area coordinators for the junior youth circles.

NABI Study circles utilizing Ruhi training have played an important role in the Native American Baha’{ Institute's efforts to fulfill its mission to develop

The Baha’i Faith: A Comprehensive Introduction, June |-Aug. 31

Seekers, new believers or veteran Baha’is can study the Faith through this course with some academic rigor and neutrality. Highly suitable for college students wishing to arrange credit.

Christianity for Deepening and Dialogue, June 15-Sept. 15

Explore Christianity’s origins, the life of its Founder, the composition of its scriptures, the systematization of its teachings, its split into many submovements, and the Baha'i perspective on the religion that has more followers than any other in the world.

Upcoming courses

Watch for information on a course on The Secret of Divine Civilization, July 1-Sept. 30. Other future courses: ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas, Sept. |—Dec.31 ‘Abdu’l-Baha, the Exemplar, Oct. 1-Dec.31 The Writings of Baha’u’llah: A

human resources in the Navajo/Hopi regions, according to NABI co-administrators Alice and Jerry Bathke.

‘Two of the institute’s four goals are to train and develop a cadre of American Indian Baha'i teachers of the Faith and to promote, design, and deliver systematized training to Baha'is and to Local Spiritual Assemblies.

An example of the impact of the Ruhi training is a study circle undertaken by John Kerns, a youth volunteer at NABI.

Kerns is part Saquamish Indian from Washington state. He came to NABI in January 2000 and has been active in the youth workshop, maintenance, housekeeping, clerical work and children’s classe:

But he began conducting we circles in Houck on his own

“T've had the bounty of s Faith in Navajoland and : trained in facilitating a Ruhi study circle,” said Kerns. “My study circle began. with one family, the Betsouis. Presently, there are three participants: Delores, Betty, and Norman.

Pe and Betty are Baha'is, Norjowever, he is a friend of the Faith. He is alwa' ing questions.

“We are studying the section on prayer, which is a huge part of Navajo culture. Book One is to help the individual fall in love with Bahd’w'lléh. Thi method relates the Writings to their life, which has great impact on their hearts.”

The staff at NABI plans to do more visiting and to expand the study circles. Because some cannot come to the institute for training, they are trying to bring the programs to people.

NABI has initiated study circles at Aneth, Utah, and Lukachukai, Chinle, ‘Tonalea, Holbrook and Houck, Arizona.

In addition, five students have undergone the weeklong intensive tutor training. Upon invitation of the Regional Baha'i Council, these five tutors are available to go out to other reservations to conduct Ruhi training that is sensitive to the needs of native believers. #

Comprehensive Introduction, Nov. 1-Feb. 28, 2002

The Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Development of the Individual, Nov. 15—Feb. 15

The Bible, Dec. 1-Feb. 28

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 (college-level) or advanced (graduate) level. Financial aid is available.

THE WILMETTE 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.

page 14. Tue American BanA’i * NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

April 28, 2001 [Page 15]GerTvat

One jump ahead of the Census report

Latin American committee steps up to help Baha’is adapt as Chicago evolves

BY THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

he 2000 Census is out, and Chi go’s profile has definitely changed: Latinos now account for 25 percent of the city’s populatio: What are the Bahd’is going to do about this new situation? As luck or Providence would have the Regional Baha’{ Council for the Central States already ahead of the

t directed its Regional Latin ching Committee to es Spiritual Assembly of Chicago and pursue two overall goals: Enroll new believers of Latin American background and stimulate r American teaching that will become self-sustaining in the Chicago area.

Plans have gradually taken shape and an effective collaboration between th committee and the Chicago ‘Teaching Committee is gaining momentum.

On March 10, 2001, the second of two start-up mé , open to Chicago-area believers, took place.

Also present were a member of the Regional Baha’i Council, two members of the Illinois/Indiana Regional Youth Committee, a) member of the Chicago ‘Teaching Committee and visitors from Peru and Spain.

Participants felt a sense of history in the making.

With candor and heartfelt concern, the believers shared their experiences within a large, predominantly Englishspeaking community.

“Tn all the meetings I have attended, said a Latino friend, “I have never heard a prayer read in Spanish. I know most of the Baha’fs don’t speak that language, but sometimes I feel so homesick that

EXPERIMENTS IN COMMUNITY BUILDING

collaboration between the Chicago community and the

Regional Latin American Teaching Committee include bilingual study circles.

just that little bit would mean so much!”

An Anglo believer said, “The consultation always seems to be about bringing ‘them’ to ‘us,’ whether we’re talking about Latinos, youth or African-Americans. It’s as if there is something wrong with ‘them,’ that the ‘they’ don’t participate is a deficiency ‘we’ can help them overcome.

“What would happen if we started talking about moving toward all the ‘thems’ in the community? Maybe there is something about the way the community runs that is not welcoming; maybe change needs to occur among the ‘we’ so we can all be united.”

A number of new ideas were put forward, such as approaching community centers and social-action groups within Latino neighborhoods to find out ways which the Baha’fs can help them deliver their servi

“It wouldn’t have to be just Spanishspeakers,” one Baha'i. “Most of these organizations need English-speaks for all kinds of things.”

Another friend, picking up on the idea, suggested, “Maybe this could be a good way for all the Chicago Baha’fs to work together to reach the Latino population without having to worry about language.”

Still another idea: Work with the Regional Youth Committee and the campus Baha’f clubs to reach bilingual college students, reinforcing bridges across the language barrier.

The first commitment was to begin a bilingual study circle in Chicago, with monthly meetings in one of the friends’ homes, mixing study of the Writin with a warm and welcoming social environment.

As ‘Abdu’l-Baha said, “Make a start and all will come right.” @

e

MESSAGE,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE |

Center. Stories were told, memories were shared, and songs were sung. Laughter frequently broke out, our hearts throbbed, and tears filled our eyes throughout the gathering.

The participants took note of three things for which we are especially blessed. We have recognized Baha’u’llh as the Manifestation of God for this day. We have volumes of Sacred Scripture plus further elaboration and guidance from ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice from which to draw strength and guidance. n singled out as the “Great Republic of the West” by ’u'lléh, along with Canada, to be the first recipients of the Beloved Ma: ter’s “Tablets of the Divine Plan.” Thes three things, alone, are the backbone of our strength as

We felt it was important to identify

salient qualitative strengths present in the Baha’{ community and share them with you. Because of the level of firmness in the Covenant, it was observed that we have become spiritually inclusive, generous and responsive to family and others, loving toward the Institutions of the Faith, and are approaching the sacred role of teaching and service as a way of life. Sacrificial effort to contribute to the National Baha’{ Fund has been a benchmark of the 4 Baha’i community.

Also identified were programs and activities that distinguish our Baha’f community life, ranging from supporting Bahai Schools, and child, junior youth and youth initiatives, to holding regular Fe; Holy Day commemorations and devotional gatherings. More Baha’i communities are acquiring centers Assemblies are functioning at a more mature level and there are increased numbers of collaborative meetings between Institutions of the Faith. The enthusiastic thrust of support for the Kingdom Project

merican

as well as continuous sacrificial support of all funds of the Faith is expanding among the ranks of the believers toward universal participation. From this solid base of activities, we see extensive support of the National Media Campaign, Regional ‘Training Institutes, and Social/Economic projects, such as the areas of Race Unity and Gender Equality.

With systematic teaching efforts in mind, it has been demonstrated in various areas of the country, where there is a systematic institute process closely linked to the National Media Campaign efforts, that a process of accelerated and sustained growth has been s As growing numbers of seekers and veteran bel pass through the courses offered by training institutes, a synergy is produced that vitalizes the individual, a stitutions and the local commun

y, leading to a culture of growth, in hich the believer: to teach as a natural consequence of having accepted Baha’u fi

Dearest friend

ieve

we reflect upon

CONFERENCES

Association for Baha'i Studies

Memorial Lecturers for this tion for 4’{ Studies—North / a, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in Seattle, Washington. Amanat designed several of the newer buildings at the Baha’i World Center: the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Center and the Center for the Study of the Texts. Sahba was architect of the House of Worship in New Delhi

Balyuz ar’s Conference of the Associ:

and was proj mel Proje

"Other: speakers will include renowned Norwegian composer and author Lasse Thoresen and historian Holly H: lel programs will be held for Pe ers, for children and for pre-youth. ils, contact Parvin Rowhani, conference coordinator (phone

, e-mail

ABS Web site (www.bahai

Mental Health Professionals

The Association of Bahd’i Mental Health Professionals is seeking presentation proposals by July 1 for this year’s annual conference, Nov. 15-18 at Louhelen Baha’{ School.

Demonstration-experiential shops are being invited, pertinent to the conference theme, “Unfolding the Potential Within: Exploring the Nature of Psychospiritual Development.”

If interested in presenting, please submit 4500- to 700-word abstract describing the workshop, experience or training session, well as a résumé and brief bio.

Proposals and information should be sent to Holly Timberlake c/o Holistic Psychological Center,

(e-mail

work

).@

recent accomplishments and strengths of the American Baha’is, our hearts are filled with a sense of appreciation and gratitude. As we move into the Fifth Epoch it becomes increasingly clear that carrying forward the process of entry by troops is a challenging task. Yet we have every confidence that with much love and patience with each other, a deeper understanding of our divine r unity of purpose and an attitude of learning, the American Baha’s commuy will achieve this task, “whatever the sacrifice.” Our love and prayers are with you always, and we look forward to ing you in Wisconsin at the “Building the Kingdom Family Conference!”

With loving Baha’é greetings,

Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards,

National Spiritual Assembly of the Babd’és of the United States,

Regional Baha'i Councils,

National Teaching Committee,

National Education and Schools Office

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’i * NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

page 15 [Page 16]

Policy work can fuel change outside politics

above the fray of politics while definitely

Kevin A. Sabet of Be

California, is president and founder of International Students in Action, a coalition of college students worldwide devoted to drug prevention and education aimed at college campuses. In the drug prevention field since age 13, Kevin has debated, interacted and served with international figures on drug policy issues. He has written articles for numerous newspapers and journals, as well as been featured by leading publications. Last summer he worked in the Clinton White House, where he updated the official stance on drug legalization. He also wrote speeches for America’s former “drug czar,” Gen. Barry McCaffrey. In 1999 and 2000, he was a nonpartisan drug policy adviser to thenGovernor George W. Bush.

BY KEVIN A. SABET

© you want to make a difference. Per haps you are a Baha’f college youth with little time for the one-sided political bantering that occurs on most campuses. aybe chaining yourself to a desk or going ona hunger strike i a bit too drastic for you do feel a social obt uy to change the world around you. What can you do that is meaningful?

A lot.

Numerous opportunities for youth lie in this country. In fact, Ame! arguably the most accessible nation in terms of its government, elected officials and general “Wait a second,” you're id government AND electce. Baha'is are a given. Some

environment.

thing is wrong here. Wall, not realy.

are not allowed to join polit, OF participate in electioneering ing. We're even discouraged ing the merits of one ca date over another. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t get involved with the democratic process. allows us to stay

focusing on what’ i important: polic:

Asa freshman at the University of California, Berkeley in 1997, I was a bit disillusioned with what was happening on campus. The repeal of affirmative action was dividing students (Proposition 209), the denial of health care and other benefits to illegal immigrants was pitting Republicans against Democrats (Proposition 187), and the emphasis on environmental responsibility (arguably spurring the growth of the Green Party)—all were hot subjects.

Debate and discussion are great for developing ideas, of course, but what was happening was more like warfare. No one

as listening to each other, devoting their energy to specific cau: ‘e important to them (¢.g., attempting to offer basic services to immigrants, lobbying for legislation to prevent tre tting, etc.), people were focused on putting other people and ideas down.

Since the death of a friend in a drugged-driving accident, I have been devoted to the issue of drug prevention. I always thought I lucky: I meet with elected officials, help policymakers make decisions, and even got enough support to start two nonprofit organ’

ations de

LETTERS FROM READERS

content in The American Bahd’i.

possibly for length.

welcome letters from readers on topics relating to the furtherance of the goals of the current Plan, the principles of the Writings, and response to

• The purpose of Letters from Readers is to encourage an exchange of ideas and

opinions, never to denigrate another’s views or attack anyone—openly or subtly.

• Opinions expressed are those of the writers, not necessarily of the editors.

• A 250-word maximum length is suggested. Letters will be edited for style and

Address to: Editor, The American Baha’i, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.

Caution urged on placement of interfaith activity articles

To the Editor:

I have recently joined the American community from the United Kingdom, nd find The American Baba’i extremely well-produced and very interesting to read. I do, however, have one small comment.

Ina re ion (Vol. 32, No. 2) on

14 under “Teaching News Brie

pag

there is a short noti bout the interfaith service held in Utah at the Mormon ‘Tabernacle.

Itis my understanding from the Writings teaching and _ interfaith activities are two separate issues with two separate goals (see Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 13-14), and are certainly seen as such by the vast majority of those who participate in the latter. Concern has already been expressed by a leading figure in the interfaith field concerning Baha’{ triumphalism, and I have also heard accusations of hypocrisy.

With respect to other religions the beloved Guardian has confirmed that

h’s “avowed”

and “unalterable is to widen their basis, to restate their fundamentals, to reconcile their aims, to reinvigorate Beh life, to demonstrate their restore the pristine te of their teachings, to coordinate their functio and to assist in the realiza their highes i Effendi: The p. 114)

So we need to be, and be seen to be, genuinely interested in interfaith activiies. Including Baha’s participation in s under “teaching” encourages attitudes which could well be

to

SP 8 orld Order of Babi ‘wah,

seen rogant by other:

There are of course te: to participation in th people who are often very open have access to the writings of Bahd’u’llih, but this should not be our focus.

I would like to suggest that any interfaith activities which we participate as well as interfaith news given its own section.

Apart from that minor point, I am very impressed by your publication.

ching benefits

ents, 3

ee)

in general, be

Yours with thanks, James Goldsmith

HOWARD,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

by sticking to a budget of $22 a day.

‘This was enough for him to travel (by bus), have lodgings (in pensions), and eat “three square meals every day.”

He spread the Message of Ba in 59 countries on $22 a day.

Normally, Howard would only stay in each place for a short time, although he remained in Honduras for more than a year.

He sees messages from the Universal House of Justice as having personal instructions for him.

Obedient and responsive to any request from a Baha’{ institution, Howard nevertheless went ahead with his work without waiting for a committee to tell him where to go or what to do. He just did it.

When he arrived in a country, he would notify the National Spiritual Assembly that he was there and what he was doing, so news of his activities would not come as a surprise.

Howard’ style in Latin America was to go to the rural areas, mingle with the people, and take whatever occasion preself to tell them about Baha’u’l

Pu'llah

sented i lah.

His style in Europe was different. There, he would travel from country to county, staying in youth hostels and teaching the other residents.

s of people declare the in Bahd’wllih, but his focus w: on planting seeds.

Howard said of his years of traveling teaching, “I don’t know how many people I affected. ... If there is any glory to be given it is to the power of Bahd’u’lléh.”

Now that he is 90 years old, what are his concerns?

voted to the substance abuse issue. it without breaking any

Baha’ laws.

Don’t get me wrong—the field of drug policy has many poli s in it, Republicans and Democrats alike. But as a nonpartisan voter who always made my nonpartisan status known, I think I’ve benefited by working with both sides. I listen to both sides and make my own judgments, rather than falling into a politically charged ditch like some of my peers at school. I made a conscious decision to attempt to impact the world in a direct way.

itless opportunities in the policy field await able minds. skip the internship campaigning for your favorite city mayoral ndidate, and volunteer for a nonprofit, head into your county government office doing work that actually matters, or march up to Washington, DC, and work a think-tank. You'll be surprised at the difference you will make.

Reprinted from the March 2001 issue of Fertile Field, a national publication of the Office of Youth Affairs.

They don’t center on him, but on the progress of the Cause, including economic development, service opportunities and promotion for youth, and education of children who have difficulty learning to read and write.

‘The essence of community building, he is convinced, is for Baha'is to be a positive and visible presence in the community.

That is best done when is and operate businesses on a high ethical andard, he believ Howard thinks the “year of service” should be better broadcast, both within the Baha’f community and for the media.

He said that a news conference with 10 or so youths sharing their experiences would be a great antidote to the bad press young people have gotten in recent ye: The community, he feels, needs to p: special attention to children who are difficulty in school and give them special attention ance and encouragement to move forward.

Any regrets?

Only that he didn’t spend more time in each country to help establish firm communities.

The one thing Howard does not talk about is slowing down. There is so much to do and he feels he has only about 10 years left.

Maybe then he will consider a more conventional retirement.

A 120-minute audiocassette of Ekvin

National Spiritual Assembly.

‘Th find out about opportunities for pioneering or international teaching, contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-7333508, e-mail iB

page 16

Tue American BanA’t ¢ Commentary/ConTinueD:

April 28, 2001 [Page 17]MATURING COMMUNITIES

‘Share the Joy’ video still resonates

BY THE KINGDOM PROJECT OFFICE

na series of unprecedented meet[oe last October and December,

members of the National Spiritual Assembly gathered our Baha’ family together.

It allowed us to pause in reflection on our victories thus far and to look ahead to the challenges and rewards of the upcoming Five Year Plan as we work together to build the Kingdom.

A special focus of the meetings was reconnecting the with ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s mission for America.

‘The hope was that we would all come to more fully appreciate the joy of our Faith that able privilege to have been given and our sacred obligation to share with others.

‘To explore the theme of joy, the National Spiritual Assembly set out to produce a video, titled Share the Joy, that would explore the way it mani: spiritually, materially, and mysti our Faith.

Why a video about joy? And what does this have to do with “Building the Kingdom?”

‘The joy of attracting new believers, the joy of our own spiritual growth, the joy of recognizing our own capacity to carry out God’s Plan is available to each of us

lly in

Ever-present element

When we are able to allow j joy to Bere meate our individual c well as our community | cept new souls to enter our community with full credentials as when we allow or permit financial and other material resources to flow from and through us as individuals and communities to the Funds of the Faith, joy will become an ever-present element of our Baha'i experience.

Joy is one of the tools we must develop, continually refine, and use in our efforts to build the Kingdom.

And this point was not lost on those who watched the film as part of the 36 meetings with the National Spiritual Assembly.

“It was the most creative, powerful video I have seen produced by the national office,” wrote a believer after

watching it. “As Picasso said: ‘Art washes away the dust from the soul.’” Another called the Ba National

Center to say that the video “is just a stroke of genius and I love it very much.

. I'm so impressed with it that I’m going to use it as the center of our devo

INGDOM

T'S OURTIME

THE ‘KINGDOM PROJECT IN ACTION: LOUHELEN BAHA’f SCHOOL AND LOUIS G.GREGORY BAHA’{ INSTITUTE

tional program this Saturday night.”

Have you seen Share the Joy? The National Spiritual Assembly offered a free copy to all Local Spiritual Assembl celebration of Ayyam So far just over half of all. Local Assemblies have responded to say that they, too, want to share the joy.

If you have not yet seen the video, ask your Assembly to order a copy and play it for the community.

Or, borrow a copy from your community library and share it with a group of friends.

“Joy gives us wings,” the beloved Master reminded us. “In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener. ...”

Share the joy by helping to build the Kingdom. It’s our time. @

Above: Workers put up planking on the roof of Unity Hall, an addition to Louhelen Baha’i School to accommodate gatherings of up to 200. Photo by Jim Cheek

Left: A newly refurbished classroom at Louis Gregory Institute is captured with Ayyam-i-Ha decorations intact.

Photo by Sam Conrad

House of Worship on TV

The Bahi’{ Héuse of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, has been featured ina segment of HandyMa’am, a home improvements show on public TV. The program often spotlights large buildings in the process of repair or restoration. Host Beverly DeJulio interviewed Dennis Davis, the House of Worship conservation director. The Chicago-originated program was set for broadcast April 21 in the go area. However, other public TV stations that carry the program may have this episode scheduled for later dates. @

KINGDOM PROJECT OVERVIEW

AS OF EARLY APRIL 2001: DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

• Louhelen Baha’i School: The outer

shell of the new Unity Hall is complete; it is expected to be ready for use sometime this summer.

• Baha’i House of Worship: Concrete

and plumbing work to restore parts of terrace and gardens will resume when weather allows.

• Green Acre Baha’i School: Architectural design has proceeded for building

of a new meeting hall and classrooms; work could begin this summer.

• Bosch Baha’i School and Native American Baha’i Institute: Consultations on

development plans are under way.

• Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute:

Planned exterior and interior renovations have been completed.

ENSURING MATERIAL MEANS

• More than 4,400 people have

pledged funds toward the $60 million goal.

Nearly as many people have participated by contributing directly. More than $23.2 million in pledges or cash contributions has been committed to the Kingdom Project.

.

‘DID YOU KNOW ...

.

The Baha’i Home for the Aged has had the same furniture since opening in 1958?

Over 2.5 tons of ice-melting salt was needed last year to keep the Temple and national Baha’i properties safe from ice and snow?

• Twenty-seven spotlights, combining

three different light spectrums, surround the Temple to provide color balance in its appearance in the evening?

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

‘KINGDOM PROJECT Office of the Treasurer 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 Web site www.usbnc.org Phone 847-733-3521

Basis for the Kingdom Project

“Building the Kingdom: It’s Our Time,” the Kingdom Project, is a five-year comprehens' ‘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 and expansion of its dependencies, redesign of the Haziratu’lQuds, 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.

Rit lbh RE SORE! ASRS SASS

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’i ¢ MaTuRING CommUNITIES

page 17 [Page 18]

MATERIAL MEANS

An occasion for spiritual growth

New videotape available:

A Visit to the West by the Trustee of Huqiqu’llah and Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Ali Muhammad Varga

prepared by the Office of Huqdiqu’llah in the Holy Land

This video shows highlights of Dr. Varqi’s visit to Spain and Ger y just before the end of the 20th century. It conveys his message of love to the friends and the spiritual aspect of the sacred law of the Right of God.

Dr. Varqi provides a ba ing from the writings of Ba and referring to reciprocity and interdependence—fundamental principles of natural law that are at the very heart of this mighty law of Baha’w'llih.

This precious 43-minute video, li

round to this divine law, cit’u'llih and ‘Abdu’l-Bahé,

its predet will certainly prove to be a much-valued and e tool in the education of the belie bout the spiritual significance and application of this sacred law of God. To order this video within the U.S.:

Please use the multipurpose form on page 32.

Under “Special information,” please list the number of copies of the video you wish to order, as well as the total cost. Each copy costs $9 plus $3 for U.S. posta

Please enclose payment by check or money order, made out to “Huqiqu’llih Video Account.”

Mail the form and payment to one of the Trustees or to. the Office of the Secretariat, Baha’i Huqtiqu’llth Trust

e box at right for addresses).

Council investigates module courses firsthand

ay, mane: the Universal House of Justice has told us, is a benefit that both new and veteran believers should partake in.

The Regional Baha’{ Council of the Southern

ften with payments of Huqtqu’llih come mes: that re moving examples of spiritual growth. From time to is good to share some of these to inspire us with the joy and radiance that comes with obeying the law of Huqtiqu’llah. Here is a recent one slightly paraphrased:

“In compliance with the great law of Huqtiqu’lléh I have computed my obligation as my final transaction on this earthly plane. I will be winging my flight to the Abhé Kingdom very soon as cancer is bringing my time with you to a close. I have

Baha'u'llah states, it is ‘a bounty which shall oul in every world of the worlds of God, the AllBountiful.”

of sayin it remain with Possessing, the

A frequently asked question: How do we make provisions in our will for the payment of Huqdqu’llah?

In guidance from the Universal House of Justice we are reminded that Huqtqu'llah is a law to live with, not to die for. In other words, if we begin to observe this law as early in our Baha as we can, we shall have the spiritual bounty and relief of knowing at the end of our life that we have already “purifi ns.

But, of course, igher age brac cial circumstances it may be necessary to provide for the unpaid Huqtqu’lléh in our wills. In such cases the executor should be directed to pay the specified Huqiqu’llih to the ‘Trustees in care of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.

Helpful hint: Please include your full name and address as legibly as possible on the envelopes. R 's with only initi: do not carry the same legal weight as with full names. #

1 our pos:

for some of us in

s and spe

als

HUQUQU’LLAH

THE RIGHT OF GOD

Payments to Huqdqu’llah should be made to “The Baha’i Huqdqu’llah Trust” (please write your Baha’i identification number on your check) and sent to one of the Trustees:

+ Amin Banani, phone

e-mail + Stephen Birkland,

» fax 310-394-6167

phone fax 651-490-7521 e-mail

• Sally Foo,

phone , fax 609-671-0740 e-mail

+ Daryush Haghighi,

phone fax 440-333-6938 e-mail + Elizabeth Martin, P.O. Box 178, Winnsboro, SC 29180 phone , fax 803-635-9982 e-mail Office of the Secretariat, Baha’i Hugqdqu’llah Trust, (phone

, fax 440-333-6938,

e-mail ).

Charitable Gift Annuities

now offered by our National Spiritual Assembly as a gift-planning option

Acharitable gift annuity is a contract between you, as the donor, and our

National Spiritual Assembly—providing advan‘

States—composed of what can fairly be called vet- Under a charitable gift annuity: Benefits: eran believers—has decided to lead by nple. * A donor irrevocably transfers funds to our * Guaranteed fixed payments for life, a portio Are the members of your Local Spiritual As- National Spiritual Assembly, which are invest- are non-taxable.

sembly well-studied in the areas of “ ultation” and “Applying Spiritual and Administrative Principles”? So are the Regional Council membe:

But in March, the Council as a group studied the Assembly Development module workshops on those subjects, with the fa ion of a trained Assembly Development representative. The Council found it a “wonderful learning experience.”

Do you think the “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit” course from the Ruhi Institute is so basic that you couldn’t gain from it? The Regional Council has spent a three-day weekend taking that course, and termed it a “profound” experience that “provided means for the Council to strengthen its bonds of love and unity.”

re very full,” the Council wrote in a let

ed with other annuity funds.

• Regular quarterly payments are made to

you, the donor, for your lifetime.

+ The remainder of the annuity fund is transferred to the Baha’i Fund after your passing.

8-page brochure from the Office

ated asset. ‘+ Increased support of the Baha'i Fund.

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

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

e annuity $7.

agend of the Treasurer has been estabter to Spiritual Assemblies region. “However, lished to help as elected members of institutions, we are called Individual copies believers make a upon to build vibrant Baha’f communities to may be requested variety of financial continuously examine our institutional unity. ... free. Nominal arrangements for Our unity is not given, it must be nurtured.” charge for ordering themselves, their More information is available from the Office of in quantity. families and the Assembly Development, Baha’i National Center, Baha’i Faith: 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847733-3490, e-mail ) or on the Web To order The Writing of a Will or to * Phone 847-733-3466 / e-mail

(www.usbne.org; click on “NSA Departments” then “LSA Development’). #

find out more about the gift and estate planning program:

• A charitable income tax deduction for a portion of the

gift in the year in which the annuity is established. Reduced capital gains taxes if funded with an appreci tages for both.

Requirements: n of which > “Must be at least 60 years of age to enter into an annuity agreement with our National Spiritual Assembly. Must establish the annuity with a minimum of $10,000. + Must irrevocably transfer the funds. Will receive lifetime annuity payment.

ime annuity $660

50 Not yet licensed in Arkansas, California,

Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin

The National Spiritual Assembly's Gift and Estate

Planning Program

• Providing for the Baha’i Faith in your

will

• Making a gift of securities

+ Making a gift of real estate

• Making a gift through life insurance

Receiving income from your gift:

• Charitable Gift Annuities

• Charitable Remainder Trusts

• Or, fill out the form with the Baha’i Funds slop attached oh paper

page 18 THe AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ MaTuRING COMMUNITIES

April 28, 2001 [Page 19]

les in theevening. Get

magine that you and a friend are in

the garden during these special days. Cut about 30 small squares of paper, draw roses on them, and put them in the center of the board. Roll a die, then use a button or coin to move along the path. (If you don’t have a die, flip a coin and move two spaces for heads, three for tails.) Collect as many roses as you can. When you visit a friend’s space, you each get an extra rose. When one person reaches the end of the path, count all the roses you've both collected. If the two of you have 14 or more, you both win!

idvan celebrates the 12 days Bahda’u’llah spent in the Ridvan Garden in Baghdad before departing for Constantinople. It was here that He told His companions He was the Promised One of All Ages.

Ridvan is celebrated from April 21° to May 2" every year.

You prepare a meal for the Baha’is.

subscribe Now!

You prepare tea for Baha'u'llah,

Baha'u'llan’s tent. Move ahead 2 spaces.

you greet visitors who come

to say good-bye to Baha’u'tlah. Get 1 rose. ©

visitor. Get 1

Send this form to: Baha'i Distribution Service + 4703 Futton Industrial Bivd. + Atlanta, GA 30336

1 Please enter my subscription for Brilliant Star magazine at 6 issues per year (check one):

| United states @ $18 One Year 2 $52 Two Years It DELIVER SUBSCRIPTION TO I Name I street I city [ Is this a gift subscription? If so, from who?

[9x suuine inronmarion J Name

I ‘Street

poy

H payment type. Check/Money Order

I

I Q Credit Card (circle one) B credit card Number

Cardholder's Signature

International (Surface Mail) 2 $18 One Year $32 Two Years

State

State

(International — Air Mail)

2 $28 One Year

a $52 Two Years

Age Phone Zip Country Phone Zip Country

Number Dollar Amount

(take checks payable to Baha’ Distribution Service}

Visa | Mastercard | Amex | Discover

Exp. Date

I sc

¥

April 28, 2001

Tne AMERICAN BanA’i * MATURING COMMUNITIES

page 19

[Page 20]

what are the purposes of the Baha’i Nations! Conference? To launch the Five Year Plan. + To help foster a learning community through sharing of ideas and action. + To instill hope, joy and confidence in the

CONE

e all have things to teach each other. We all have

hearts. : : ; things we can learn from one another. We all learn to 9 2 ele ways of integrating our various face our challenges by observing and listening, forming ee roles in life. + To help consecrate the friends to the con- aan Sg cept of “Building the Kingdom” in all For those reasons, the Building the Kingdom aspects. Conference, June 28 through July 1, will devote

very little time to main session gatherings and for mal speeches. Instead, an abundance of workshops

and learning projects will convey vivid glimpses of

Baha’{ community action and give us tools to devel op, spread the Faith, and help our communities in

their growth. Real people will share how they have used available resources, or created and maintained systems, ing Baha’{ teachings and principles to: wal and family life.

• Growth and development of communities.

• Encouraging children and youth to learn and to

contribute as integral members of an organically united community.

• Maturation of Baha’i institutions.

• Service projects.

HOUSE OF WORSHIP TOURS

owntown Milwaukee is about 90

minutes from the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette. Many visitors from across the country would be unable to forgive themselves if they came that close and failed to visit the holiest Temple in the Bahd’i world.

So just before and just after the Bahd’i National Conference, a few hundred people will have the opportunity to spend hours immersed in the history, mission, services and future of

everyone, Pegardless of age or Bahs'i experience. Other sessions will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of the Bah:

Universal as the too

will be proven to help meet ic goals and needs within Baha’s They will help many Baha’is leave Milwaukee with new skills—prepared, confident and inspired to promote the Healing

the House of Worship.

As visitors board the bus at the conference site, they will be showered immediately with the welcoming spirit of the Mashriqu’lAdhkar. Two videos will be shown—one on the building's original design and development, another on the progress of the Kingdom Project. Singalongs and other family-friendly bus activities will help the miles fly by.

Before long, the bus will reach the streets of Wilmette, and without doubt everyone on board will know as soon as the white dome comes into view. Visitors will have an opportunity right away to pray and meditate in that sanctified spot, then enjoy the gardens and environs.

After a picnic meal, an array of learning activities will help the whole family learn more about the sacrifices and triumphs that led to building of the Temple, the current and future dependencies to fulfill the service missions of the House of Worship, the symbolism in the design of the gardens and the ornaments, and the efforts to maintain the Temple's unique beauty. #

Information on signing up for the House of Worship tour will be included in the materials mailed to you after you fegister for the conference. Tour times: Wednesday, June 27: 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, June 28: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, July 1, including special memorial program for Iranian martyrs and their families: 3:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday, July 2: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: Adult $30, child/jr. youth $15 Information: of 847-853-2333

Some of the tools they use will be familiar to many

Message. @

Ew one of us has the duty and the need to take ot If into account, to strive to refine the inner spiritual life yet to bond more closely with one’s fellow children of God. The Writings make that clear.

Yet even though we can all benefit from staying in touch with people who have more (or less) life experience, people within each stage of life generally share a set of their own struggles and needs.

For this conference, our National Spiritual Assembly has identified four life stages whose needs will receive particular attention: people in their 20s and 30s, youth, junior youth and children. ‘These “tracks” will complement a series of learning sessions, mainly in the early evenings, designed to involve young, old and in between at the same time.

“Realize Your Destiny: Work, Faith, Relationships”

The 20s and 30s are a life stage in which development of a person’s work life is crucial, yet it needs to be balanced constantly with the commitments of faith and the need to build healthy relationships—with family, spouse, or even a potential spouse.

“We want to take people through a journey: to begin identifying who they are and why they are; to help build skills that help us develop and deal with these three components—work, faith and loving relationships—and also give the inspiration that when they leave this conference they are prepared to apply their lives in a new way,” said Andra Grant, a member of the task force organizing the “Realize Your Destiny” track. “We want

to help people see their way through toward their individual destinies.”

In addition to identifying regular workshops, the task force is putting together late-night sessions focusing on this age group. They will deal with the particular balancing acts required for a healthy spiritual and emotional life while entering the work force or starting a family, forming or re-evaluating life plans, and even becoming well-established.

Youth: To the next level “I have heard a number of people say this is the best generation of youth ever,” said youth task force member Mojan

Sami, “in terms of incredible po~ tential in raising the Baha’{ standard.”

The temptations and tragedies that contrast this potential are the very conditions, fellow task force member Jen Wilson said, that set the stage for youth “to create social change, to be invincible champions of justice.”

Youth programs at the Milwaukee conference will be designed with an extraordinary effort to clude every youth who attends in “a circle of intimate friendships that will last beyond the conference,” said another member, Husayn Allmart.

And for those who already are improving their lives and those of people around them, “th opportunity to take this excellence to the next level,” said Jerry Clark, during a break in a task force meeting that was obviously energetic and idea-filled. “That is what the youth track of the conference is all about.”

Late-night and other sessions designed specifically for youth will use the arts—painting, mural making, music, poetry—alongside “discussion, discourse and discipline” to build knowledge, determination and energy.

Other “youth-friendly” sessions will be peppered throughout the weekend, balanced with those providing fun and learning for several generations at once. ‘The youth will even have opportunities to gain skills and practice in mentoring

SEE GENERATIONS, PAGE 39

page 20) THe AMERICAN Band’ ¢ BanA’i NATIONAL CONFERENCE

April 28, 2001 [Page 21]MAIN CONFERENCE SESSIONS

he lights go down. Music rises. You are transported through sound, ovement and words to a place where e spirit st its struggles and revels its po: Four times during the conference, you Il have a brief chance to gather with 1,000 of your best friends at Milwaukee ‘ena for a burst of inspiration intended illuminate your vision for the learning ocess over the rest of the weekend. “The whole experience will be not unxe a film,” said Mehr Mansuri, a ember of the task force organizing the )-minute plenary programs, one prented each day. “We want to take the dience through a journey—a struggle, a rning point, and finally the resolution.” The idea of “Building the Kingdom of od” can be nting, even forbidding, a unless it’s viewed at a personal, unandable level, Mansuri said. “We

Every day, the 90-minute main ses sion will set a theme for that day’s

learning experience: . Thursday: What is the Kingdom of God? A historical perspective

have to break that down to ‘what does it mean to me? Whatis my role?’” she said.

‘The heart’s answers to such eternal i Il be the focus of these daily

grams wil depic it descendants of the Dawn-Breakers, fighting our sp

al battles, sharing what we have learned, finding our destinies and performing services—nourishing services, regardless of how large or small they may be.

Programs were not final as of this printing, but elements have been taking shape. Each day’s session will include live presentations—music, dance, theater, words from the Holy Books and from literature—interwoven — with recordings and film clips.

Each program will involve all ages on stage, and will be designed to engage all ages in the audience. A strong presence by children will imbue all the main programs, alongside elders, youth and all their brothers and sisters. | this will be geared toward telling friends of Baha'is and seekers: “We are part of the world and we want to tell this to the world. We are part of the struggle with you.” @

ONFERENCE,

NTINUED FROM PAGE |

ping our ririts growing in the ew world while coping ith the old.

Opportunities for conecting across racial,

sligious and economic boundaries will help us

new our vision of humanity's oneness and guide

ur courses to an open pathway toward peace.

Above all, we will be utilizing Baha’u'lléh’s zvelation as a unique and vast resource that oriduals and ommunities to find their place in this new

anizes and spiritualizes indi

‘orld.

OPPORTt

on’t call the Daystar Café a “coffeehouse” in front of Orly Cocco.

the Daystar C: 2 Its a sweeping area within the Milwau kee Auditorium, with a total of more than

2,000 seats and wo performance stages.

In fact, the Café and the adjoining, spacious Conference Lobby will be the first conference gathering places people will see. Right away they will recognize the Café as an ideal spot for cross-country reunions of friends and family, or even for getting to know a new circle of friends—so that those inevitable spontaneous gatherings don’t clog hotel lobbies and restaurants.

And a variety of refreshments will be available. Coffee will be among them, and so will Persian tea and sweets.

If entertainment is your wish, a continuous program of less-formal, often intimate presentations will be offered: music of many kinds, poetry reading, dance, even Baha’i youth workshops itching to “come and show off their

Penetrating all programs, workshops and aci¢s is a universal theme: Each of us is entitled love, to knowledge and to the discovery and

into practice.

dence becomes a way of life. #

new routines,” Cocco said.

For a more structured program of professional-level artistic performance, the place to go will be the nearby 900seat Plankinton Theatre.

Social opportunities of another flavor will be available in several places. Family rooms will be set up with quiet (or sometimes lessquiet) activities available for children and their parents, brothers and sisters.

And what would a Baha’f conference be without a bookstore?

pursuit of our purpose in God’ creation. People familiar, even intimate, with the teach ings of Baha'u'llah can discover fresh views and

creative methods of putting those teachings

Those first coming into contact with the Baha’i teachings and community will be able to discover a welcome home—one in which the search for truth, the acquiring of knowledge and the gaining of a deep joy, hope and confi earmark an extra National Fund contribution to “Building the Kingdom Conference” Find out if there’s a

SOCIALIZE

“Ie will be a natural gathering place,” said Lee Minnerly, who will oversee the bookstore space. He added that its hours of operation will be generous.

It won't be a single-minded spot, but will comprise spaces within a space: displays of merchandise, places to relax, read and perhaps have a cup of coffee, and a “meet the authors” area.

Authors will be on hand to talk about their books with conference attendees, nswering questions about what inspires them to write, which in turn “hopefully will inspire people about the creative

Il also include informative s dealing with the Kingdom Project and its role in development of new Baha’{-themed books for sale to the general public.

And of course the books, music, videos and other i for sale will reflect the conference's general messages of hope, joy and confidence. Space will be provided for other vendors to sell a variety of goods, including, jewelry, calligraphy and other visual arts, clothing etc.

WHERE, WHEN, HOW ETC.

Register now! Pre-registration is a great investment in time. If you pre-register by June 14, you will receive materials including a bar-coded sheet that will allow you to get through the conference check-in area quickly. Otherwise you would have to go through a longer process to register on site (though organizers will work to make that as hassle-free as possible). Register via the Web site:

www.kingdomconference.org .. OF use one of the registration forms mailed to every Baha'i household and Spiritual Assembly. .. Of register toll-free by fax (877-6081816) or by phone (888-802-8177).

Plentiful lodging, free rides Numerous lodging choices are still available at hotels outside the downtown area. At all hotels listed on the conference Web site or registration form, free shuttles will be available all day, so transportation to and from the conference is no problem.

Lodging info: 847-733-3594 Transportation info: 847-733-3591

where the action is

Programs and other conference features

can be found in several places through out downtown Milwaukee:

+ One 90-minute main session each day at U.S. Cellular Arena, capacity 10,000 General workshops at various locations in the Midwest Express Center and some downtown hotels Arts and entertainment at the Plankinton Theatre and the Daystar Café (Milwaukee Auditorium)

+ Bookstore, exposition and vending at the Midwest Express Center

Vendor application info: 847-733-3591

Workshop proposal/followup: 847-733-3592

We can use your help When you register, please think about volunteering a shift (usually three hours) to serve your fellow conference-goers in the following areas: hospitality, security, children’s classes, registration, ushering or Daystar Café help.

We are also seeking those with skills and experience in spoken translation (Persian, Spanish, Hmong or other languages), American Sign Language, lip reading, or physically assisting people (wheel chair assistance, lifting/carrying, etc.)

If you’d like to contribute time, leave a voice mail message at 847-733-3593

Training for volunteers who will be greeting the public will be provided at various places around the country! This is based largely on the training provided from early on by the Milwaukee Regional Training Institute.

Those who would like to perform or teach in Milwaukee before or after the conference, contact Project Malakut

(phone , e-mail

).

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’‘i ¢ BAnA’t NATIONAL CONFERENCE

page 21° [Page 22]SPIRITUAL DISTINCTION

Allan, who is an assistant to Todd Kutches, an Auxiliary Board member for Propagation.

That report reflected a well-established network among schools in the area. As NESO found, several years’ worth of of groundwork has gone into forming that network.

In fact, Baha’ schools in this corner of the country are carrying out a process that NESO is initiating on a national scale.

two months after posting this request, the NESO staff was surprised and downright impressed when a list of 23 schools with accompanying information came in from a single e-mail address.

That list came from Sara Lewis of Snohomish County, Washington, an assistant to Celia Johnson, Auxiliary Board member for Protection serving Washington and northern Idaho.

Sara worked on the project with her husband,

OE is article is the fourth in a continuing series on the work and growth of local Baha’{ schools.

Past issues of The American Bahd’t have highlighted local schools in Bloomington, Indiana; Santa Monica, California; and the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

This fourth article was inspired by one response to a call by the National Education and Schools Office (NESO) for the registration of local Baha'i schools.

Having received about 80 registrations in the first

oct Attendees at the 2000 Washington state Baha’i Education Conference plant a tree to honor the “parent schools”—the three oldest schools that gave birth to all those that followed. Photo by Sara Lewis

Fast facts

Local Baha’i schools in Washington and northern Idaho have average attendance ranging from 3 to 225.

Days of meeting: Saturday morning Saturday afternoon Sunday morning Sunday afternoon Friday afternoon Once in 19 days Schools reorganizing

N=—wU—n

Schools:

• Anisa Baha’i School
• Apas Goudy Children’s Activities
• Clark County Children’s Classes
• Columbia Gorge Baha’i School
• Dawnbreakers Baha’i School
• Daystar East Baha’i School
• Daystar North Baha’i School
• Family Baha’i School
• Gig Harbor Children’s Classes
• God Is Great Baha’i School
• Greater Walla Walla Classes
• Makah Nation Children’s Activities
• Moses Lake Baha’i School
• One World Baha’i School
• Pierce Co. Baha’i School
• Promised Garden Baha’i School
• Pullman Children’s Baha’i Classes
• Seattle Baha’i School
• South Sound Baha’i School
• South West Washington Baha’i

School

• Star of the West Baha’i School
• Woodinville/Snohomish Co. SE

Baha’i School

• Moscow (Idaho) Children’s Classes

Network lets schools share learning

Annual education conference, guidance from Auxiliary Board are linchpins

BY BARBARA McCORD, EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

“The regular holding.of Baha’i cl classes should be given high prio! deed, in many parts of the world this is the first activity in a process of community building, which if pursued vigorously, gives rise to the other developments. In all this particular attention needs to be given to the youth, who are often the Faith’s most enthusiastic supporters. The establishment of these activities defines a first stage in the process of community development, which, once attained, must be followed by subsequent stages until a community reaches a point where it can formulate its own plans of expansion and consolidation.” —The Four Year Plan, Messages from the Universal House of Justice, p. II

From grassroots efforts

6 he development of the network

of local Baha’{ schools in our area is a wonderful organic process,” said ‘Todd Kutches, Auxiliary Board member for Propagation, who has seen that effort in Washington and northern Idaho blossom rapidly in the past six

“We're finding ways to c various community acti now, and Baha’i schools are at the heart of this pro It is all starting to work together.”

Both Auxiliary Board members serving that general area have been involved from the start in a unique annual Baha’é ion Conference, which draws local Baha’{ schools’ teachers, organi ind members of sponsoring Assemblies froin all over the area.

nnect all the

“This conference ... helps train, inspire and encourage those attending through workshops and sharing of information, curriculum ideas and said Sara Lewis,

to Celia Johnson, Auxili member for Protection. “Learnin

from experiences of other schools has

proved very motivating.”

In addition, the confere: pin in a network that | established schools in their development and helped several communities begin new Baha on a firm footing.

One result, Kutches said, is the operation of 23 local Baha’{ schools among the 84 Spiritual Assemblies in the area, up from 10 or fewer schools only a few years ago. “We now have more school:

serving more diverse

needs,” he said.

Born with the backing of the Washington State Teaching Committee, the areawide movement has been maintained largely through _ the connection-making work of Sara Lewis and her husband, Allan, who serves as an stant to Kutches.

action of child education in the Ws ington-northern Idaho area,” ‘Toussaint, now a National Sp itual Assembly member, who speaker at the first conference 1996.

People representing at least four Baha’i Schools consult on passages from the Ridvan 2000 letter of

the Universal House of Justice relating to children and youth during last June’s Baha’i Education Conference at the Brighton Creek Baha’i Conference Center in McKenna, Washington. Photo by Sara Lewis

A tree is planted It seems natural for Northwesterners to wrap the metaphor of a tree around the growth of a spiritual education program. Last June, the conference dramatized this metaphor with a tree

planting ceremony.

Representatives of three of the states first Baha’s schools lovingly spread rose petals from the Shrine of Baha’u’llih around the tree’s roots in recognition of their reliance on Baha'u'llah in the process of growth. Then they added soil and water.

“The tree planting a way for us to honor these parent schools for their great love, perseverance and stalwart efforts in beginning the process of spiritual education for children in the Wash: ton community,” said Sar: the tree to grow, branche: the new schools—must grow from its

Page 22

Tue AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ SpinmuaAL DistincTION April 28, 2001 [Page 23]

trunk, the original schoo!

The current process had its beginings at a Unit Convention about six years ago in eastern Washington, at which special interest groups were invited to meet. One of those groups was on Baha'i education, and participants immediately organized a _—_ monthly newsletter and began planning for a conference.

With the blessing of the State Teaching Committee—of which Johnson was a member—the organizers contacted all the schools known to the committee, ‘a Lewis recalled.

At that time, Kutches had for a few years been a parent serving on the committee for the Daystar North

School, serving the Everett are: school, in 1996, hosted the area’s first Ba ahi f Education Conference.

the result ofa

And w the

group vision.

all across

state,”

the first { school boards and committees, Local Spiritual embly members and parents had gathered together to examine the purpose of the schools, how they could draw on each other’s successes, and how they could nurture each othe

“Back then it was a radi proach!”

Attended by about 35, the first conference included a feature presentation by Linda Popov on virtues education and a number of smaller sessions on various topics.

Since then, the conference has grown along with the education activity in the area.

time that various local B:

‘al new ap

Patient nurturing

In between the conferences, of cours’ comes the crucial work: development of year-round support for the schools.

From th t, Lewis indicated, that spirit was nurtured by the State Teaching Committee-sponsored process. As plans for that first conference developed, she said, “a list of Baha'i schools s compiled so that the schools could be identified and we could offer our as

Over the years, a listening ear has been offered to Assemblies and groups that were sponsoring a school, supporting one or simply interested in starting one.

“As information accumulated, and we ited other communities in the state, we shared what we learned—often sharing how other schools resolved certain problems,” Lewis said. That store of information included larger concepts such as mandates, and details such as registration and advertising ideas.

“As the schools became schools, incre: she said.

One of the biggest supporters of the process—‘it really serves a significant role in strengthening the support base for the schools”—is Laura Baerwolf.

A third-generation Baha’, she is coordinator of adult classes and service

aware of other ed networking began,”

National statistics: survey response fra Bah Ai communities nationwide

Among key findings from the first national survey on edu cation for Baha’i children and youth:

• A variety of curriculum formats are used for the instruc" tion children and youth. Core Curriculum is the most

" prevalent format in use among localities.

• Communities with children tend to have higher participation rates of the members in its community life. More

than two-thirds of communities with kids under 18 (69%) have adult participation rates greater than 50%.

• About 60% of children under 15 attend classes regularly

in communities that sponsor classes.

$35.

• Average annual educational expenditure per child or

youth under 18 by Assemblies that sponsor classes is

• 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.

Above left: A group presents its artistic expression of the issues and results of consultation at the 2000 Baha’i Education Conference. Above right: Auxiliary Board Member Celia Johnson gives the keynote address titled “A Pressing Challenge” at the 2000 Baha’i Education Conference. Photos by Laura Baerwolf

for the Woodinville/ Snohomish County Southeast Baha’s School. She also happens to be the Lewises’ daughter.

Baerwolf credits her parents with eral years of working “tirelessly to visit the schools, consult with their school committees and sponsoring Assemblies, and generally encourage and remind everyone of the importance of spiritual education for children.”

attend the Baha’s school’s afternoon sessions.

Other school | outreach efforts, including a variety of advertising methods—from newspaper and direct mail to person-to-person—also were inspired by dis ith organiz: other school to board member Ed Roi

“Our recent shift to using the fourth Sunday of each month for

‘hool service

projes Unity at work from the conferPredictably, said ence,” Rous Kec SI" Qutreach efforts suchas 7” eal schools vary con- Yakima’s appear tobe — > “We also first siderably. They gq, a shared our initial come in all shapes, “built in stages, much like ees with

held, recognized stages of teach- of the

of facilities, . . Core Curriculum

ete.” ing. I think many of the scope and se

eae out Jocal Baha’s schools are in queries /prozre

into the arger . chart at the con community, ered the early ‘finding and ference,” he said.

placing ads for attracting’ stage.” “This led other

their Baha’ Auxiliary Board member Todd Kutches schools to adopt it

schools. and, in turn, map

Some have adult classes—deepenfor the believers, cours or both, he added.

Here are some of the ideas have put into practice as a result of the networking proces

One World Baha’i School, Yakima. For a while this school was meeting in a church. After it changed its meeting time to 4 p.m. Sunday, some Baha’ started attended the church’s morning service. Soon, some children from the neighborhood congregation began to

for

out their curriculum. In addition, our teachers have learned new approaches to planning and new ideas for activities through the conferenc

Even the mandate and bylaws for the school—operating since 1980 with Asmbly sponsorship and a board—were refined as a result of the exchange of ideas.

Outreach efforts such as Yakima’ Kutches observed, appear to be “built in stages, much like recognized stages of teaching. I think many of the local

Baha’{ schools are in the early ‘finding and attracting’ stage,” he said.

“Often the socio-economic efforts of a community are very much related to chools,” he said. “For example, the Nez Perce Reservation [in northern s the bounty of a young homering couple that provides that are open to anyone in the entire community. Such efforts tend to open doors and build community in

Woodinville/Snohomish County Southeast Baha’i School. This school gs about four years ago, t it was in touch with

and from the the network through the Lewises. “They shared with us statements from

the Writings on the importance of spiritual education of children and on the LSA’s responsibility in this regard,” Baerwolf said.

Contact with other schools on issues of common interest was of direct benefit, she said. Particularly, when the school’s organizers were deciding whether to offer afternoon sessions rather than Sunday morning class they knew of a school in esatern Washington to contact and “talk with them about the challenges and opportunities this format presented.”

Star of the West Baha’i Sunday School, Spokane. Among the long-established schools—conducting since 1964—this group nevertheless found itself facing several challenges five years ago: recruiting teachers, finding a suitable location, and

SEE WASHINGTON, PAGE 28

April 28, 2001

Tne American Band’ ¢ Srinruat Distincrion page 23 [Page 24]

Stocking the toolbox

BY LIZ DONALDSON

randon Reintjes, 24, of Marquette,

Michigan, now has a few more tools in his toolbox for “advancing the process of entry by troops.”

He and others gathered in February at Louhelen Baha'i School for the second half of their Youth Empowerment Facilitator Training.

This session, one of the Core Curriculum institute training _ programs, empowered Reintjes to affect not only his own “spiritual path but also the health and well-being of a greater community,” he said.

The course serves as a vehicle for youth facilitators to empower youth to arise to teach and serve the Cause, cling to standards of rectitude and purity, champion justice, and spearhead victory after victory for the Cause.

Kate Johnson, a Davison high school senior, also completed the course. She likes having a high-quality curriculum available so she can concentrate on implementation rather than materials development.

“We tried most of the learning activities offered in the course during our training,” she said. “The variety of people there learning this curriculum together made the course a very positive experience.”

Carlton Mills, a father of grown children, has also been trained in youth facilitation and has completed. most of the cou offered by the National ‘Teacher Training Center at Louhelen.

“I think everyone should get all the Core Curriculum training they can,” he said. “In Urbana, Illinois, in fact, our Assembly is making funds available to assist youth in our community who want to take Core Curriculum training at Louhelen.”

Mills is enthusiastic about the diverse array of areas addressed by this curriculum.

“Finally, we have a comprehensive set of Core Curriculum human resource development services to offer all areas of the community,” he said. “This should help us in meeting the Universal House

Joannie Yuille will help lead a session soon on empowering children through love and discipline. Photo by Jim Cheek

of Justice’s call for human resource development.”

May 11-13 will be another excellent weekend for young people at Louhelen. ‘The annual Parent Child Weekend will see two sessions with decidedly different foci.

Bonnie ‘Taylor and Joannie Yuille will lead the “Raising Children of the Kingdom” session, which will emphasize empowering children through love and discipline to render service to the Cause and humanity.

Concurrently, Lily Ayman of Chicago, an author of educational materials, will present a session for parents on how to teach their children to speak Persian. She will teach concrete methods for teaching children this “language of Revelation.”

Another upcoming session at Louhelen is “Strengthening Unity in the Community,” May 4-6, a fascinating journey through Holy Writings that hold the keys to true unity, developed and led by National Spiritual Assembly member Erica Toussaint.

essions through this summer at Louhelen Baha’i School include:

May 25-27: Managing with the Wisdom of Love, with Dr. Dorothy Marcic. Practical workplace applications for spiritual principles, with charts and checklists to help managers promote virtue in the organization.

June 1-3: Maiden of Heaven Young Women’s Institute, with Dr. Hoda Mahmoudi and Nasim Ahmadiyeh. For ages 13-19: helps young women foster their spiritual development, teach the Caus, and contribute to the well-being of humanity while handling their responses to cultural influences.

June 17-21: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute I, “Developing Love for Bahé’wilah,” with Joannie Yuille, Gloria Holmes, Rona Schechter, Ruhiyyih Yuille, Audrey Compere, Cate Vance and others.

June 23-27: Camp Loubelen Children’s Institute I, “Baba’u’llab’s Principle of Oneness and Promoting Race Unity,” with Joannie Yuille, Rona Schechter, Cate Vance, Gloria Holmes, Eileen Lozen-Kowalski, Ruhiyyih Yuille and others.

Both the above sessions for ages 8-12: focusing on building daily habits of spiritual living, with varied and fun activities including classroom learning, science and art activities, music, games and sports.

June 29-Fuly 4: Persian American Baba’i Studies, with Dr. Muin Afnani, Keyvan Geula, musicians Mansoor Sobhani, Manuchehr Vahman, Peyman Forooghi and Behrooz Sanai. This bilingual session provides concentrated study of the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf and The Secret of Divine Civilization.

July 6-11: Friends and Families I, with Dr. David Ruhe, Margaret Ruhe, Anthony Vance, musicians Rick Snyder and Brenda Snyder. include the life of Baha’u’lléh, the importance of strong families and teachings on justice.

July 13-18: Friends and Families II, with Habib Riazati, musicians Ernestine Atkins and Kay Yoder. Fast-paced study of the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, in which Baha’u’llah provides an overview of His mission. With correlation of the sacred writings to contemporary thought, spirited discussions and opportunities for self-transformation.

July 20-25: Choral Music and Community Growth, with Tom Price, Evander Gilmer and Barbara Baumgartner. Active exploration of the relationship between music and community growth. Includes voice training, performances by all ages, and strategies for community growth and development.

July 27-Aug. 1: Youth Eagle Institute, with Habib Riazati, Joannie Yuille, Ted Jefferson, Ruhiyyih Yuille and Dr. Rick Johnson. For youth ages 15 and up: Features study of the sacred writings. and empowers the double crusade to transform the self and society.

Aug. 3-8: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for Junior Youth, “Shoghi Effendi and the New World Order,” with Patrick Patillo, Maia Patillo, Rona Schechter, Henricus Terpstra, Joannie Yuille, Ruhiyyih Yuille, Nuri Dimler and Nevin Jenkins. For ages 12-15: Youth build a vibrant Baha’i community and support each other through prayer, study, consultation, recreation, fellowship and fun.

Aug. 10-15: Friends and Families I, with Dr. Richard Thomas, Dr. Holly Hanson, musician Susan Engle. Practical approaches to applying the Word of God to the pressing needs of humanity, through study of The Secret of Divine Civilization and exploration of practical strategies for building racially united Baha’{ communities.

Aug. 10-15: Spiritual Parenting, with Marie Scheffer, Lily Ayman, musician Susan Engle. A Core Curriculum parenting program that explores the joys and challenges of parenting through prayer

essions through this summer at Bosch Baha’f School include:

May 25-27: Young at Heart, with Dr. Khalil Khavari. What special challenges and opportunities will we face at retirement time? How will we serve the Faith and how can our marriages be sweetened and strengthened?

May 25-27: Baba’i Marriage and

Family Life, with psychologist Dr. Diane Rockloff and her husband, Bill Rockloff. Topics include standards for a Baha’{ marriage and its implications for serving the Cause.

June 1-3: LSA Team Development, with Auxiliary Board member Marsha Gilpatrick. So far, this course has helped foster the maturation of over 200 Local Spiritual Assemblies. Limited attendance.

June 1-3 and June 8-10: Core Curriculum Parenting. Topics include parents’ role and station, spirituality of the child, character training, meeting challenges with Baha’f principles, and creating a child-centered community. June 16-21: Family Session 1—Per‘sian: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, with Habib Riazati, Dr. Ghasem Bayat and visiting artists Manuchehr Vahman and Payman Foroughi.

June 23-28: Family Session 2—Persian/English: Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, with Habib Riazati, Drs. Ghasem and Sateh Bayat, Dr. Amin Banani and visiting artists Narges and Shahram Shahriari.

June 29- Fuly 1: Family Session 3— Ocean of Light, with Ruth and Hamilton Breton and Auxiliary Board member Marsha Gilpatrick. This is the sixth annual teaching conference for Pacific Islanders and friends, presented in Tongan and English.

July 7-11: Children’s Institute, for grades 4-6. Training in various disciplines of Baha’ life, including study, service, prayer and moral training. Children are encouraged to see themselves as catalysts for change in their family, school, and community.

July 14-19: Family Session 4—Baba’s Administration, with Ed Diliberto and

Fred Schechter. An interactive workstudy course based on sacred texts as well as recent messages of the Universal House of Justice.

July 14-19: Make Your Holy Days Creative Events, with Anne Gordon Perry. Focuses on incorporating the arts in Holy Days, Feasts and other Baha’{ events, making them more exciting, fulfilling and attractive to others. July 21-25: Family Session S—Baha’i Administration. With course content as described for July 14-19, plus special guest Marguerite Sears sharing memories of her husband, the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

July 28-Aug. 2: Youth Institute, with Auxiliary Board member Gary Bulkin and Margie Bulkin, high school principal. For ages 15 and up: study of sacred writings, workshops, classes, service, exercise and talent show.

page 24 Tne American BanA’i * Srigiruat Distinction — April 28, 2001 [Page 25]

Counselor Rebequa Murphy recently spoke to the participants in the annual Core Curriculum Advanced Seminar at the National Teacher Training Center, located at Louhelen Baha’i School in Davison, Michigan. The Counselor spoke about the importance of spiritual education in preparing children for world citizenship. The 35 seminar participants are Core Curriculum trainers already serving actively in the U.S. and Canada.

Photo by Jim Cheek

Louhelen ...

ful reflection on the w Faith, interactive le:

ring experiences, pply Baha’ teachmited enrollment.

‘hter, Kevin Loc! Danielle Locke, musician Bob Simms. A pair of companion courses on study of the new Five Year Plan and on spiritual and practical means for building

the Kingdom of God on earth.

Aug. 31-Sept. 3: Homecoming 2000, with Donald Rogers, Fred Schechter, Kathy Grammer, m in Ernestine plore the Five Year Plan and hip of the arts and the

learn how to teach the

‘aith through loving family and comy life; and share stories of the Hands of the Cause of God. @

| WWWiereenacre ore The ‘Handmaids’ gather

COMPILED BY PHYLLIS RING 667 | *o be as one soul was to be at

Green Acre for the handmaid

en’s weekend.” “It was deeply spiritual, inspirational—empowerment to arise and

advance. “It was like eating delicious, rich food, full of delightful surprises.” “I gained assurance of Baha’u’llih’s

hese are but a few of the feelings expressed by “Handmaids of the Merciful” who attended a recent conference for women at Gr cre Baha’i School.

Auxiliary Board member for Protection Barbara Yazdi Markert called the Feb. 16-18 conference to foster the “spiritual empowerment and encouragement of women. The idea is to become

selves, our true selves.”

Presentations on early women in the

Faith proved to be a major source of

inspiration.

Diane Iverson delivered a picturesque and compelling account of the life of Navvab, wife and eternal consort of Baha’u'lléh.

Janet Parnes’ dramatic telling of the story of Téhirih, the first woman among the disciples of the Bab, brought to life her heroic sacrifices for the advancement of womel

Mara Khavari explored the qualities and life of Bahiyyih Khaénum, the Greatest Holy L

“Sometimes I feel that I'm not strong enough. So many women here have such amazing strengths,” one young woman who had only been a member of the Baha’i 'y for six months.

“But now I r e that God has made all these qualities available for the taking and it blows my mind. I’m so excited right now, I’m shaking,” she said.

Another moving part of the weekend was a time of sharing by two women who had survived serious tests.

Laele Cruikshank gave a beautiful ‘ount of the strengthening experience she conti to gain through faith and study of the Writings since the death of her college-age son.

Au Vafai shared the story of her escape from Iran with her husband, two small children and a bat

Attendees also g humorous yet me: by Dorothy Marci

ly appreciated a ingful presentation who donned wigs

SEE GREEN ACRE, PAGE 27

essions through this summer at Green Acre Baha'i School include:

May 18-20: Reaching Christian Hearts with Baha’wllib’s Good News, with David Young.

May 25-27: Latin American Weekend, with Alexis Garcia and Linda Meccouri. June 1-3: Regional Media Conference. June 8-10: Race Unity Weekend, with LeNis é June 22-27: Junior Youth Academy, with Farah Rosenberg, for ages 11-14. June 29-July 4: Consecration, Love of God and Teaching; classes for ages 3-up.

July 6-12: Badasht Academy, presented by the Regional Baha’f Council for the Northeastern States and the Regional Youth Comittee, for grades 9-12.

July 21-25: Camp Green Acre, with Jill Berg and Roger Davis, for ages 8-12.

July 21-25: Building a Divine Civilization through the Arts, with Anne Gordon Per: July 27-Aug. 1: Searching for Meaning—Finding it in the Hidden Words, with Bob Harris, and The Rhythm of Baba’t Life, with Barbara Harris and

Rodney and Janet Richards. Aug. 3-8: Virtue Virtuosity, with Kathy Grammer and Andi Seals. Aug. 3-8: The Fifth Epoch and the Five Year Plan: New Thinking, New Actions! with Counselor Gene Andrews. Aug. 10-15: Developing Authentic ReJationships, with William Hatcher,

y K. Radpour, Lonya Osokin, Sheri Asplund and Carmel

Aug. 10-15: Core Curriculum Training, with Sharon Dixon-Peay and Dennis Smith.

Aug. 17-22: The Secret of Divine Civ

ilization, with Habib Riazati.

Aug. 17-22: Youth Institute—The Secret of Divine Civilization, with Joannie Yuille.

Aug. 24-29: Spirit of Children—Conference on Children’s Art and Literature, with various presenters. Aug. 24-29: Parent Training Program, with Nancy Duggan and Lisa Sobhian.

Aug. 31-Sept. 3: The Power of Prayer Within a Life of Service, with Linda Meccouri and John Woodall

Aug. 31-Sept. 3: Junior Youth Institute.

Aug. 4-9: Junior Youth Institute I, with Nima and Negin Anvar, Stacie and Steve Yuille. Aug. 11-16: Junior Youth Institute Il, with Joanne and James Yuille. Bodh of the above vritings, exercise, , making friends healthy environment. Aug. 18-23: Family Session 6—Persian/English: The Secret of Divine 5 with Drs. Ghasem and t, Dr. Muin Afnani and Soheila Afnani. Aug. 18-23: Brilliant Star: Future Writers and Publishers. Students will work on a project for Brilliant Star junior youth learn communication skills and teamwork as they conduct interviews, write, take photographs and prepare page layouts. Limited enrollment.

Aug. 24-26: Writing a Will/Huqigqwilléb, with Pamela Solon. Increase your understanding of the laws and procedures involved in both thes cred obligations.

Aug. 24-26: The Power of Love in Your Personal, Family, and Community Life, with Dr. Dan Popov and Linda Kavelin Popov. Focuses on strate for spiritually healthy r communities through cultivating the virtues of a sustainable life. Limited enrollment.

Aug. 30-Sept. 3: Choral Camp/Soul Food, Bosch’s third annual Music We with Tom Price, Barbara Baumgartner and Victor Wong. Sing music from the World Congress, Tom's new oratorio Carmel, and other sour Children, youth and adults will have specific training. Come join us if you love to sing! @

Two Junior Youth Institutes, a Youth Institute and a Children’s Institute are all on the schedule for Bosch Baha’i School this summer. Photo courtesy of Bosch

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA‘i ¢ SpinmuaL DistincTioN

page 25 [Page 26]

Regional schools do their part to advance human happiness

Central States Tuunots “HEARTLAND,” Juvy 31-Aus. 4 Bradley University, Pe

ransforming ership. With ry Board member.

ampus with cafeteria; dorms. Pool

and other recreation.

Registrar: Carl Clingenpeel, (phone

mail ).

Towa, Juty 20-22

Best Western Inn, Newton, IA.

Baha’u'lléh: Love Me That | May

Love Thee. With Curtis Russell, member,

egional Baha'i Council.

hool fees (includes ): Adult $50, Youth/Pre-Youth $40, Child (6-11) $30, G-5) $10, Infant free. Hotel $55+tax per night (double room). Day rates available.

Registrar: John Hanke,

(phone ; ). Pre-register by July 6.

e-mail Kansas, May 4-6

prings 4-H Camp near

ishing New Bases for Human ss. With David Fre -ynn Wicties, member,

an, memb

family and

dorm cabins (hotel-style lodging available). Horseback/outdoor recreation, crafts, Fees: Adult $100, Youth/Pre-youth $80, Cl (2-5) oF Infant (0-1) free, Day rates available. Registrar: Gray Bishop,

- e-mail ). Pre-register by April 28. Neraska “Great Prains,” Jovy 19-22

Location: Per

(phone

ate College, Peru, NE. stablishing New Bases for Human ess. With Dawn and Chad D:

mas,

mpus with di

ing hall; dorms (bring bedding). Pool, court sports.

Fees: Adult, Youth or Pre-Youth $95, Child $75 or $60 in sleeping bag on floor, Infant (w/o bed) $15 Registrar:

Day rates available. il Peterson,

(phone

). Preregister by June 15; late fees apply otherwise. Onto “KaumAr,” Jur 13-15. Location: Bergamo Conf. Ctr., Dayton, OH. Program: Establishing New Bases for Human

e-mail

Central meeting/dining, classrooms;

¢ rooms or hotel. Pool, court sports, trails.

Fees: Including shared onsite room: Adult (21+) $160 (private room extra), Youth or Pre-Youth (11-20) $95, Child (3-10) $65, Infant free. Registrar: Greg Vaughan, (phone

, e-mail ). Registration ends June 25. Wisconsin “MARIAN SterreEs,”” Juty 16-20 Location: Byron Cer , Wh Program: E: New Bases for Human

er, Brownsvi

ablishi

, dining; dorm-style door/team sports. Registrar: Lisa Riemer,

e-mail

(phone ). Pre-register by

66 [& stablishing New Bases for Human Happiness”—the nationwide study program for 2001 prescribed by our National Spiritual Assembly—is the general theme of this year’s regional summer schools across the country. A curriculum guide andstudy aids, from the National Education and Schools Office, are available on the Web (log into www.usbnc.org with your Baha’i ID number, click on “NSA Departments,” then follow the link to the Education and Schools Office).

Here is a list of spring and summer schools, from May through Labor Day weekend, that have reported their plans to the Education and Schools Office in time for publication. More details in the next issue of The American Baha’i.

Southern States Froripa, jury 6-9 Location: Florida ‘Tech Univ., Melbourne,

Program: Happiness Is ... Answering the

Il. With Counselor Eugene

Andrews.

s nearby). Pool, ten

ion: Donna F

tz (phone

Georaia, May 25-28 Location: Calvin Conf. Cur, Hampton, G

lishing New Bases for Huma

chool fee $25, couple $40, Famil cals extra; call Re; Registrar: C. Lavont Steele,

(phone , e-mail . Pre-register by May 1 to avoid extra $10 fee. Kentucky, Aus. 31-Serr. 3 Leadership establishing Ne}

, Faubush, KY. Bases for Human.

Happiness.

Fees: School fee $15. Meals and cabin lodg1g: Adult/Youth/Pre-Youth $25.75/day; C $15.88/day (Lodge room fees $7-$30 extra per

id

night). Limited family di Registrar: Joanne Strano-Barnes,

counts.

(phone nail

). Pre-register by Aug. 24. Maryann “DaysprinG,” Aus. 2-5 Location: Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD.

Autributes of Spiritual and Material

ssrooms, workshop space; dorms, cafeteria. Pool, hiking trail. Lawrence Corbett c/o School,

Registrar: Merl

Dayspring Baha’

(phone e-mail

site http://dayspringbahaischool.org).

Mississippt, June 1-3

Location: Duncan Gray E

Canton, MS.

Program

copal Center,

ablishing New Bases for Human Happiness.

Faci

ies: Central meeting/dining; double

rooms. Lake, trails, outdoor and tean

sports. Fees: Adult, Youth, Pre-Youth or Child $120.50. Day rates available.

Registrar: Lorean Hubbard, (phone 5693). Pre-register by May 18. NortH Carouna, Auc. 24-26 Location: The

mit, Browns Sut

chi

Program: Love of God and ‘I Registrar: Sandra Miles,

(phone

egister by Aug. 13.

Oxtanoma, Mav 4-6 Location: Saints Grove C: Stillwater, OK.

Registrar: Cathy ‘Turner,

n: pground near

(phone ,

e-mail ). SoutH CaRrouna, jury 6-12

Happiness. With Erica Toussaint, Shahin

nette Reynolds, Tod

Infant free. Family and day rate Registrar: Doug Phillips, (phone

mail ). Pre-register by July 4. Tennessee BAHA’s Institute, Auc. 31-Sert. 3 Location: Monteagle, TN. Registrar: Kaihan Strain,

(info only phone

DuBose Convention Center,

please leave your e-mail address).

Texas, Aus. 31-Serr. 3 Location: Greene Family Camp, Bruceville, Registrar: M. Mazidi (phone ‘ ). Vircinia (West) “Hemtock Haven,” June 15-17 Location: Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, VA. Program: Happiness. ‘acilities: Classroom:

stablishing New Bases for Human

cabins/lodges, meals on

te. Outdoor/water recreation, pool. Fees: Adult $84, Youth $65, Child (3-12) $50. Day rates available.

P.O. Box 2156,

+e

Registrar: Sarah Jane Li Lebanon, VA 24266 (phone ). Pre-register by

mail June 4.

Western States SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, June 21-24 Location: Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Yucaipa, CA. cilities: Central me

ing, dining (vegetarian

.cals optional), smaller classrooms; carpeted cabins with bunks. Adult, Youth, Pre

Fee: outh (12+) $140, ld (44) $80; Infant (0-3) free; fan

count. Day rates a

lable.

Registrar: Ai hechter Vahid or Frank Vahid,

(phone

e-mail or ). ‘Cororano East, Aus. 8-12 Location: Woodland Park, CO.

Faci hool classrooms and di

pr

cs ing hall,

imitive 1 (hotels/n Adult $55, Youth or Cl

id (11-20)

$45, Child (3-10) $35. Registrar: Don Brayton (phone

<e-mail ). Montana “Joun H. Witcorr,” July 29-Aus. 3 Location: ark Camp near Livingston, MT. Program: Establishing New Bases for Human Happiness. With Bill D: Williams, Moen Sobhani.

. Katherine

n lodge, dining room; cabin

Swimming, horse Adult $160, Child/Youth (8-17) $130, child (4-7) $84, (0-3) $10. Registrar: Sandi Marisdotter,

(phone

e-mail ).

New Mexico “Four Corners,” Juty 11-15 near Gallup, NM.

tablishing New Bases for Human

Jali Rab

Poirier

mp Kiwan

Happiness. With Dr. Martha

Auxiliary Board members Bret nd

Carolyn Staples, Jan Saced.

indoor and outdoor meeting spaces,

dining hall; dorm, tent or RV lodging.

Outdoor, team recreation.

(19+) $75, Youth (15-18) $60,

Pre-Youth (11-14) $45, Child (7-10) $25,

G-6) $20, Infant free; discount (four or

more) 15%.

Registrar: Bill Bright, (phone

). Pre-register by July 1. EASTERN OREGON, Juty 27-30 Location: Suttle Lake United Methodist Camp, near Sisters, OR. Program: ing New Bases for Human

‘stablis Happiness. Faci

ies: Classrooms; cabins/lodge and meals (special diet requests honored). Outdoor and water sports, crafts.

Fees: Staying in cabin: Adult $105, Youth (13-17) $85, ld (6-12) $75, (2-5) $50, Staying in lodge: $5-$20 extra, depending on age. Day rates available. Registrar: Carol Picknell,

Infant fre

(phone + e-mail ). Pre-register by July 1. Uran, May 25-28

Location: Clearcreek Fan National Park, UT. Program: Establishing New Bases for Human Happiness. With Mocen Afi

Facilities: Dori

ily Ranch near Zion

limited semi

-style lodgin; private rooms, camping; bring bedd

ater sports, horseback riding. h Imani,

and outdoor/

(phone ).

Pre-register by May 15.

WASHINGTON “TINY SEED,” Juty 27-AuG.1 Location: Brighton Creek Conference Center, McKenna, WA.

xiliary Board member ‘Todd

Indoor/outdoor classrooms; cabins

(some updated), tent or RV lodging; vegetari an/special meals accommodated; outdoor

sports.

2 Adult $175, Family $600.

Registrar: Barbara Moses c/o P.O. Box 8265, enmore, WA 98028-0659 (phone

il ). Pre-register

by June 30.

SEE REGIONAL SCHOOLS, PAGE 27

page 26 Tne American BanA’i * Sriniruat Distinction — April 28, 2001 [Page 27]

Keeping alive a legacy in Georgia

Zia Bagdadi Conference draws on a sterling example

Aces: Georgia, is perhaps best nown for an annual tournament dedicated to the mastei s of golf.

But buried within a nine-iron shot of the Augusta National Rinraya a man

Zia Bagdadi ining, Bagdadi born in B rut, Lebanon, to devoted

ad been driven from their child he would clutch ’s hand as the Blessed Beauty

Bagdadi became the first Baha’f student at the University before emiig to the United States in 1909 and continuing his service as Persian editor of Star ithe West and a fervent teacher of the unity worl

IS pract

home to the oldest 4’i community in

Georgia, and holding integrated firesid in his office—quite daring in the days of when he passed away in 1937 at age 55 from heart failure.

‘ittingly, every year the Local Spiritual Assembly of Augusta sponsors a teaching conference named for this servant who received more than 50 tablets from the Center of the Covenan Ic is not large, as Baha’i conferences go. Fewer than 100 people, mostly from Georgia and South Carolina, take part. But its heart is big and sound, as it must be to carry on the work of a soul named Zia (Light) by Baha’u'llih Himself and dubbed Mabsut (Happy) by the M

“Most friends are inspired by the a atmosphere of love that affects everyone who attends,” said James Schear, a member of the Augusta Spiritual Assembly.

GREEN ACRE,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

and wild hats to demonstrate, through music of the past several decades, women’s progr

Rebecca Wilson from the Office of the ‘Treasurer spoke on abundance, suggesting that the concept encompasses not only money but everything in c

Citing ‘Abdu’l-Bah: wealth, in abun

ion. gs on

Are we willing to let it teach us about true

nce? Do we welcome

prosperity, about gener and detachment?

Other presenters included phy Sabha Farhad on the meaning of true health and wellness and Caren Rosenthal on women and violence.

“We all felt a very precious spiritual sisterhood,” said Markert after the weekend, adding that it was “something to treasure. In fact, we are already looking forward to ‘Handmaidens II.’ ”

y, gratitude,

Several conference participants contributed to this article.

Children interact with members of the Youth Out Loud workshop after presenting

the youths with gifts for participati

“Many friends return every year to enjoy the Baha’f spirit of love and service and to become inspired about teaching.

“Dr. Bagdadi was a very active teacher and his life was one of dedicated service to the Cause,” said Schear. “His own example of teaching cannot help but inspire us to overcome any obstacle that may prevent us from taking action.

“Our speaker e always provided the friends with inspiring presentations and workshops that focus on our primary task—teaching!” his year’s conference, the ninth, was

in the conference. Photo by Tom Mennillo

no different. Held Feb. 3~4 at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel, it was dedicated to the memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Amawu’l- Rihiyyih Khanum:

Former Counselor Tod Ewing and longtime Haifa residents Carolyn Fulmer and Lorana Kerfoot enthralled attendees with recollections of Khanum.

Via letters from the Baha’i World Center, so did Universal House of Justice member ‘Alf Nakhjavani; wife, Violette, Khanum’s constant companion; and

SEE BAGDADI, PAGE 31

Adam and Ilianna Muro take a break in the snow during a recent winter session at Green Acre. Photo by Alexander Rehayem

Louhelen offers poetry fellowship

ouhelen Baha'i School is accept ing submissions until Sept. 1 for the Robert Hayden Poetry Fellowship.

The prestigious fellowship was tablished in 1984 by the late poet's wife, Erma, and Louhelen to keep alive his inspiring and challenging legacy.

It provides promising Baha’i poets who demonstrate a serious commitment to the art with the means to concentrate on their writing at Louhelen.

And because the selected poets work in residence at Louhelen, this encourages the school’s development as center for cultural development, a v sion the beloved Guardian had for this institution.

Hayden was winner of the Fi World Festival of Negro Arts and the 1975 Fellow of the Academy of American Poets.

He served two terms as poetry consultant to the Library of Congress and was a member of the American Academy of Institute of Arts and Letters.

Until his death in 1980, he was professor of English at the University of Michigan and poetry editor for World Order magazine.

‘To receive information or applic: tion guidelines, please send a reques along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to Louhelen Baha’{ School, 3208 South State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (e-mail Please note the Robert Hayden Poetry Fellowship in your correspondence.

The materials include a description and details of the program, qual tions and guidelines for applicant: and an outline of step-by-step directions to apply for the fellowship. @

g

REGIONAL SCHOOLS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

EasTERN WaSHINGTON/NORTH IDAHO “SHELTERING BRANCH,” JuNE 30-JuLy 6 Location: Camp Wooten ELC, southwest of

Pomeroy, WA.

hing New Bases for

n Happiness.

ssrooms; cabins or ten/RV

somewhat rustic. Indoor pool, court

nature trails/outdoor sports. amily $550, Adult (19-59) $175, (60+) fouth (15-18) $115, Pre-Youth (11-14) hild (6-10) $85, (2-5) $55, (0-1) $32, Sponsored Child $132. No day students or

Shannon McConnell,

(phone

, e-mail by June 10.

). Pre-register

April 28, 2001

Tue AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ SrintruaL DisTINCTION

page 27 [Page 28]

L.A. gathering trains youth in mentoring younger Baha’is

leven youths gathered Feb. 24 in Los Angeles, fornia, to learn how to carry out their role, specified in the Ridvén 157 message of the Universal House of Justice, “in the spiritual upbringing of their younger brothers and sisters.”

The Junior Youth Coordinators Training was held at the Encino Baha’{ community center and organized by the Junior Youth Development Desk of the Regional Baha’s Council of the Western State:

Some programs for junior youth planned by the regional desk will deal with such subjects as teaching, living the life, Baha’{ identity and character, the Administrative Order, the Covenant of Baha’u’llih and the history of the Faith.

Itis envisioned that youth, through these programs, will help connect the hearts of j junior youth to Baha'u'llah and

‘...[YJour generation must provide the saints, heroes, martyrs and administrators of future years. With dedication and will power you can rise to great heights!”

—Shoghi Effendi, in a message to junior youth

They further studied writings that ask the youth to live a life of distinction though their actions and character.

Another major part of the training was for the older youths to pick certain Baha'i stories and to present them in such away as to attract junior youth.

In addition, presenters introduced the youth to games and exercises that might be interesting to the “juniors” and help them understand the teachings of the Faith.

Youth trained at the program said they felt a cs

appreciation for their younger brothe: committed themselves to serve the future servants of our beloved Faith.

As Shoghi Effendi stated to junior youth: “The condition of the world is steadily growing worse, and your generation must provide the saints, heroes, martyrs and administrators of future years. With dedication and will power you © to great

mighty Cause.

WASHINGTON,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

maintaining commu: full Assembly support.

‘That was the moment in which representatives of the three local communities involved met with the Lewises.

“They encouraged the communities and helped to ‘breathe in’ new life into the community members and help prioritize the responsibility of teaching the children,” said Brenda Boyd, who cha the Star of the West school committee. ‘Two important developments have followed that meeting. First, a newly created school board enjoyed a burst of individual support.

And for the past two years almost a third of the children come from famili who are not enrolled Baha’is, reported Boyd.

“We have realized our efforts are helping to fulfill a need in the greater community, so we looked to the other schools around u: for po: to our challeng

ry interest and

The roots mature and grow Lewis said the networking and sharing efforts have helped strengthen schools in the following ways:

• Increas s by Assemblies

and school boards/committees of their responsibilities expressed in the Sacred Writings. eater participation all around. Increased support by Assemblies and communities. Eagerness to employ Core Curriculum training and other resources to improve the schools More efficient, effective, confident teachers, and more of them Core Curriculum-trained. More cooperative effort among parents and teachers. All that, Lewis said, goes along with a growing vision that education and training of children plays a key role in community development. Actions to

ed awarene:

in \ them the desire to live the life and to teach and

‘To prepare for this task, the youth deepened themselves in the writings of the beloved Guardian and the Ho ‘ice regarding the special needs of junior youth.

During this session, a the Bah

of discuss

support that aspect include:

• Including a social time for refreshments, visiting and bonding.

• Systematically inviting the public.

• Commitment to community service as

part of a school’s operation.

“This just couldn’t be done without all the Baha’is in each community who ‘caught the flame’ from the writings of the Faith about the importance of the spiritual education of children and saw the vision of a child development-centered community— and were moved to action!” Lewis said.

Organizers have discovered that a particularly sensitive planning approach is required when a community decides to establish its own local school after supporting an intercommunity school.

Without careful forethought when such a community “leaves the nest,” the loss of resources and participants “could be a very traumatic experience for the ‘parent’ school and community of which it a part,” Lewis said.

Looking ahead

How can the work of the schools network be developed further? A few ideas have been advanced.

“I have always thought that a statewide newsletter would be a great way of strengthening the network and enhancing the sharing of successes, challenges, new ideas, etc. among the schools,” said Baerwolf.

“The Auxiliary Board members and their assistants have done tremendous work in bringing the network into being, but maintaining and developing it further may be too big of a task to continue relying solely on these few individuals,” she said. “I do believe though that the intimate involvement of the Auxiliary Board in the development and expansion of the network will real to the success of the

Sara Lewis looks ahead as well.

“Perhaps, in addition, or instead of, this annual conference, teacher tr: gs for smaller areas one or two times a year could be considered,” she said.

special emph: f understanding of mus and language, and how they affect culture. The youth ed ways to create a new Baha’f culture that would fully embrace the junior youth.

Ww:

height

rt, movie:

hani

For more information on the Junior Youth Development Program, please contact Mona and Zack Heern (phone }

e-mail °

Concern fer children’s education brought assistants to the Faith

Re research indicates that many people search for a spiritual home when they begin to be concerned about the spiritual education of their children.

It happened that way 33 years ago for Sara and Allan Lewis, who now advise Baha’i schools as assistants to Auxiliary Board members Celia Johnson and Todd Kutches, respectively. That role is only logical for Sara and Allan, because their hearts were drawn to Baha’{ children’s class even while they were investigating the Faith.

“Our dear children were indeed the motivating factor for our search for a new Faith. Thank God for our children!” said Sara Lewis.

“My husband and I both wanted them to have a spiritual education. During our own childhood we were raised in Christian churches and it was an important part of our lives,” she said. “Before finding the Baha’i Faith we attended various churches but couldn’t always agree with what

Another important point, Kutches d, is “the youth’ nall of this. How we continue to entice and challenge the youth will be a cl measure of our success.

“Tt seems that growing up in the popular culture promotes the need of ‘becoming your own person’ and that need is contrasted with the teachings and joys of Baha’i community life,” he said.

“Our goal is that every Baha’{ child

was being taught. Something seemed to

“couple began — investigating the Faith earnestly in Los Angeles, a few years after first hearing about it. There they attended a Baha’i Sunday school in 1969.

“I will always remember! When we walked in to the main meeting area, there was a small group of children of different races standing together at the front of the room singing, ‘God is one, man is one, and all the religions are one.”

“Tears swelled in my eyes,” she said. “I was so moved! It seemed that we had found our faith.”

The couple both enrolled within a few weeks—and months later, went pioneering in the Philippines for three years.

“I taught Baha’f school classes in Los Angeles, the Philippines, and then here in Washington,” she said. “Allan was most supportive and lent _ his artistic talent to many of my

school projects.” @

will have access to a school that offers a spiritual education as the child grows. Moving beyond that vision, of cou is one that makes such education z able to all children everywhere, Kautches.

For information on this networking process and on the 2001 Conference for Local Baha’i Schools (tentatively set for early fall), please contact Sara and Allan Lewis (e-mail )

page 28

Tue American BanA‘i ¢ SpirruaL Distinction — April 28, 2001 [Page 29]

office of youth affairs

WHAT'S NEW?

The National Spiritual Assembly WANTS ALL YOUTH to attend this summer’s

Building the Kingdom for Every Man, Woman, Youth and Child Conference.

All youth should plan to be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin June 28-July I! Register on the

Web (www.kingdomconference.org).

After the conference, youth are encouraged to participate in one of

several major teaching initiatives held across the country in July; contact your Regional Baha’i Council to see what’s happening in your region.

What's the vision ior Soe clubs?

& A We talked with Nathan Daniel Huening, 21, of Austin, Texas, who serves on the South ern Regional Youth Coordinating Team (www.youth-south.org).

What is the Youth Coordinating Team’s vision for Baha’i college clubs?

We want college clubs to do two things. One, we want them to be the points in their region where the most teaching work is happening, where the greatest growth is occurring, perhaps as a result of a profound exploration of the Writings— not just reading, but understanding the deeper implications of the Writings. ... Second, we want college youth to build the bridge between adults and junior youth and abolish intergenerational disparities. Eighteen- to 24-year-olds have the spiritual maturity as well as the patience and energy to guide the junior youth; in fact, the Baha’ college club can be characterized by how they can build those bridges.

College clubs can rent rooms on campus, acquire funds, be recognized as an official organization; plus, they have access a large number of young, receptive peoThe growth of the Faith on college campuses is enormous—this is a vital time.

ism?

‘The Southern Regonal Baha’ pan serous ter eur accne began this program n between college - The Youth Coordinating Team applied this on a regional level. It has three dozen member colleges and 65 students so far.

‘The contacts, or representatives, for each campus chapter came to a conference last September in Adianta and will meet again in April to elect a regional board of directors, which will allow all of these Baha'i students at different colleges to be part of one big, regional Baha’{ college club.

What other specific things can college clubs do?

We also have “year of service posts.” We have contacted Local Spiritual Assemblies across the region, and five of

those Spiritual Assemblies, combined with their Baha’{ college clubs, have approved full-time teaching efforts on their campuses.

ince college students don’t necessarily have time to take two to three hours out of their day to sit at info booths, other youth—non-students—may apply for full-time service on a campus. Housing will be provided, and they spend their days planning and participating in teaching efforts at the college.

One Alabama youth, for example, wanted to attend a university in North Carolina. He is doing the year of service post, and then, after a year of teaching on that campus, he will be able to qualify for in-state tuition. So that helped everybody.

Even so, the single most important thing Bal udents can do is to identify what exactly they can offer their campus community. It may be a small club, with limited resources and time, and perhaps dozens of other associations

will be engaged in service that the Baha’is would also like to do ... but nobody has the unique, insightful,

penetrating perspectives that the Baha’i writings offer. @

Letter from the College Club Desk for the Western States

to all Baha’i college club members, college youth and college faculty:

‘The College Club Desk of the Western Region hopes that each of you is having a successful spring semester. Following is a list of some exciting newer information that we’d like to share and also some reminders. Please share this at your next college club meeting.

1. Rahel Butah and Katie Molina Eckl both serve on the College Club and can be contacted

this desk for over a ay ar. Kati cently appointed to this desk in place of Mona Kashani Heern, who now serves with the Western Region Junior Youth Development Desk. Katie also has the bounty of serving with the Western Region Youth Development Desk and has founded an education reform initiative called Arise Education where she is developing a Family for Peace workshop for youth and young adults. Please let us know any new personal and college club contact information and campus teach

er n_ ing and service initiatives.

2. We have decided to continue the theme of “Race Unity,” which we are asking all college clubs to focus on for deepening and proclamation events. For individual or group deepening, we ask that you read the Towards Oneness compilation, which deals with race unity. We also recommend taking a workshop sponsored by the training institutes called Towards Oneness, which foo on both race unity and gender equality. To participate in a workshop, or sponsor one, contact your sub-regional training institute via your Local Spiritual Assembly. If you don’t have a sub-regional training institute, contact the College Club Desk and we'll try to hook you up with some facilitators who can come to your area.

3. Don’t forget to read the Bahai Campus Activism handbook!!! Unfortunately, Cliff's Notes aren’t available for this book, but we recommend skimming through it at one of your Baha’ college club meetings so all members are familiar with it. If you don’t have this handbook yet, contact us and we'll get one to you.

4. We're looking for one to two stu

dents or faculty members from each the College Club Desk. tants would report to the ery 38 days (every other Feast). ‘The reports would include updates on personal and college club contact inforn and college club teaching and service initiatives in that state. If you're interested in serving as ar this desk, please let us know. We you e-mail your full name, Baha’i ID number, the state where you live and/or attend college and include any information about yourself that you'd lik “What is called for is a spiritual revival, as a prerequisite to the successful application of political, economic and technological instruments. But there is a need for a catalyst. Be assured that, in spite of your small numbers, you are the channels through which such a catalyst can be provided.” —Universal House of Justice, letter to the Vancouver Youth Conference of July 2000 We are at your service in your continued efforts to proclaim the Cause of God on college campuses.

Warmest greetings, College Club Desk, Western Region

who will arise TO SERVE THIS SUMMER?

SERVE at the Baha’i schools and institutes through the U.S. Baha’i Youth

Service Corps: * A

• Native American Baha'i Institute\ (Arizon , Wiss
• Bosch (California) WG

• Green Acre (Haine)

• Louhelen (ichigan)

Contact the Office of Yo Phone: 847-733-3499 E-mail:

GUIDE at the Baha’i House of Worship Phone: 847-853-2325 E-mail:

INTERN at the Baha’i National Center Contact the Human Resources Office

Phone: 847-733-3427 “ple

E-mail: SERVE overseas through the International paisa Youth Service Corps:

• Mrica

+ Americas

• Asia
• Australasia

+ Europe Contact the U. Is. Office of Pioneering Phone: 847-733-3508

E-mail:

PAID SERVICE POSITIONS for the Office of Youth Affairs: + Writing/editing articles and reports Chita €

p/SAGTIVISM,

+ Research, analysis and report writing

• Graphic design

(Fertile Field, etc.) + Development of vow Bahaiouthom AU pS

Youth Service Corps Positions starting Summer/Fall 2001 ~

Send Résumés and direct inquiries to: Office of Youth Affairs Baha’i National Center 1233 Central St. * Evanston, IL 60201 Phone: 847-733-3499 » Fax: 847-733-3502 E-mail:

theast

Youth Events May 26-27 Conference of Nar Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania (contact the Zandiehs at or see Calendar, back page) July 5-12 Badasht Academy Green Acre Baha'i

School (e-mail ) July 13-23 Northeast Regional Youth Teaching Trip (e-mail )

Aug. 10-19 Solomon R.G. Hilton Baha’i School Lincolndale, New York (e-mail

) Labor Day Weekend Camp Tabarsi Camp Onas in Ottsville, Pennsylvania (e-mail the Goulds at

) Sept. 29-30 Campus Association Weekend (e-mail the Youth Committee at )

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’i ¢ Youn

page 29 [Page 30]

lassified notices in The American

Baha'i are published free of charge to the Baha’i community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial ads are accepted. Some of the opportunities have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the ends 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.

AT BAHA’! NATIONAL CENTER EvANsTON/WitmerTe, IL

Director, Office of Youth Affa

work of this key

agency, including: advising the Na

Assembly and Regional Baha'i Councils on

s. Oversees all

National Spiritual Assembly

patterns, issues and potential opportunities regarding teaching and consolidation of youth; relevant decisions of the National

communicating youth news to the providing resources and administrative support to Baha'i campus clubs; promoting the Baha’ Youth Service Corps publishing Fertile Field about six times per year; maintaining the Web site (www.bahaiyouth.com); preparing the page of The American Baha’, communi

with individuals and institutions as well as

agencies of the National Assembly. Should have strong writing, analytical and organiza tional skills, ability to supervise and work collaboratively with others, firm understanding of Baha'i administration and basic fami with U.S. Baha'i youth activities. Creative Director, Office of Youth Affairs. Designs Fertile Field, the national newsletter for Baha'i campus activities (about per year), helps edit and prepare material for Fertile Field, The American Babd’t and the youth Web site (www.bahaiyouth.com), pro

ues

vides design assistance for miscellaneous projects; handles some correspondence and helps provide analysis on youth issues to Baha’ institutions. Should have a degree in graphic design or equivalent experience in Adobe programs and Microsoft Publisher, strong writing skills, ability to delegate tasks and work collaboratively with others, ability and willingness to handle some non-design tasks as needed. Media Campaign Assistant, National Teaching Committee. Must have outgoing personality, strong verbal and written communication skills, strong Windows computer and Internet skills. Media experience is preferred. Database Analyst, National Teaching Committee. Needs strong database analysis experience; should have Windows computer experience and pleasant phone personalit Will communicate with Bal

communit

cs. and institutions cot

ring secker responses

to the national media campaign. Administrative Assistant, Persian-American Affairs Office. Office skills should include

Microsoft Windows 98 and/or 2000, possibly”

E ing 55 wpm, calculator by touch. kills in both hould be well

excellent verbal and writ Persian and English a MUS’ versed in both cultures, able to interact with

or executive assistant.

ver's license.

URGENT NEEDS

Treasurer's Office, Evanston, IL: Certified Public Accountant. Will work in fast-paced, complex environment with diverse accounting, financial and administrative responsibilities. Should have a strong background in auditing and éither for profit or not-for-profit activities. Minimum 10 years’ experience. Kingdom Project/Treasurer’s Office, Evanston, IL: Administrative Assistant. Will maintain database on pledges and cash contributions related to the Kingdom Project; produce regular large-scale mailings; make meeting/travel arrangements; provide telephone coverage. Must have exceptional ability to work with others; familiarity with computer software (Word, Excel, Access etc.) and some hardware; typing at least 50 wpm; experience as administrative

Information Services, Evanston: SQL Database Administrator, Coordinates database development. Responsible for Enterprise SQL server including security rights, table design, normalization. Responsible for design and implementation of user and departmental applications as front ends to MS SQL7 using MS Access, VB or other tools.

Office of the Secretary, Evanston: Administrative Assistant. Interacts with all departments, composes responses to all correspondence, handles high volume of detailed information with 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, dri If interested, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

all types of people; must possess in-depth knowledge of the Baha’ Faith and have excel

lent consultative abili

Concrete Journeyman, Conservation Office.

ze your skills in state-of-the-art concrete

repair for the historic Baha'i House of Worship.

Opportunity to manage and train conerete artisans in a unique studio environment. Maintenance Team Leader, Properties. Will manage facility/building maintenance and engineering staff to provide timely services at imal costs; plan, estimate, schedule maintenance requests and projects; ensure that all equipment and buildings are efficiently and effectively maintained. Needs at least five

years’ experience in all areas of building maintenance (HVAG, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, cleaning etc.) with three to five years as a maintenance manager; valid driver's license; supervisory command of English. Light-Experience Cook, Babii’i Home for the Aged.

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, C++.

Applications Developer. Provides high-level analysis, design, implementation of informa

tion systems. Familiar with variety of techVB/VBA (preferred), database, Web

‘Tools. Network Administrator/Engineer. Responsible for configuration, maintenance,

security of computer network infrastructure (LAN and WAN) including servers, cabling, switches, N tation of network and servers. Should know NT4/Win2K.

Telephone Systems Specialist.

Maintains docu

Report Writer: Skilled in Access, Crystal Reports; Visual Basic helpful.

Help desk. Coordinates support activities for LSAI project. Provides training and support for LSAI. Handles or delegates requests for support. Develops training-related materials,

assists promotion and education.

AT BaHA’l DisTRIBUTION SERVICE Futton County. GA

Business Office Manager. W

aspects of Business Office ac ;

nate/communicate with BDS manager and

buying office, Office of the Treasurer, other Baha’i offices, authors, publishers, vendors and others nationally and internationally; supervise business office assistants. Minimum five years’ experience in many aspects of accounting with a year’s management experience, extremely strong accounting’skills through G/L; varied retail background a plus; strong computer skills including QuickBooks and Excel; must be highly motivated, a problem solver, able to work independently.

Buyer. Helps ensure timely, economical availability of Baha’i literature and materials; communicates with publishers and vendors; negotiates sales agreements. Two years’ experience as a buyer, including work with purchasing contracts or two years’ experience retail ordering and stocking; experience with basic office administrative support including Microsoft Word.

ArT Bosch BaHA’l SCHOOL Santa Cruz, CA Assistant Cook (full time). Helps Head Cook and occasionally oversees kitchen and dining room operations; must have at least 2 years’

experience as a cook. Bookshop/Cafe Manager. Will buy and merchandise a wide range of book title ‘Text as well as others; also clothing, jewelry,

cred

m section offers beverages and

refreshments. Will work in bookshop as need ed and

upervise volunteers. Depending on qualifications, may help develop marl

URGENT NEED

with responsibilities and jons: Visit www.usbne.org and click on the “View current job opportunities” 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.

and the public, and

assume respon: bank depc

ility for accounts payable and ould be familiar with basic accounting and finance, inventory management, use of Booklog and/or QuickBooks; retail experience helpful; attitude of service essential. Starts May 1.

Children’s Program Coordinator/Teacher. Looking for a dynamic, personable, energetic person with a bachelor’s degree in education or related field; must be trained in Core

Curriculum; must have knowledge of curri lum building for children of all ages on a wide range of subjects; able to contact and supervise volunteer teachers. Will plan and organize children’s program as well as help with adult program. Organizational and leadership skills are a must; musical talents are a plus.

AT GREEN ACRE BAHA'I SCHOOL Euot, ME Assistant Cook (part time to full time). Helps Head Cook and occasionally oversees kitchen and dining room operations; must have at least 2 years’ experience as a cook.

If interested in any of the above Baba’t National Offices posts, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847. 733-3427, fax 84 33-3430).

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 , fax 847-733-3509, e-mail ).

Lam in the process of writing @ book about Catholicism and the Baba’i Faith. 1 would appreicate hearing from Babs’is who are former Catholics (especially clergy) about what attracted them to the Faith. Iam also interest

ed in hearing about successful methods for

teaching Catholics, as well as questions and challenges. Responses selected for the book will be used anonymously. The book will be

mitted to the appropriate review committee before publication. Please contact Bill Fagan,

(e-mail for your assistance.

). Thank you

page 30 Tue AMERICAN BaAnA’l ¢ CLASSIFIED

April 28, 2001 [Page 31]

SET INI

SE SRNTTMED ITS

_—

URGENT NEED AT THE BAHA’! Wor .p CENTER, HAIFA, ISRAEL

Maintenance/Janitorial Supervisors

‘The Works Office at the World Center is responsible for physical maintenance of buildings, involving renovations, repairs, carpentry, plumbing, electrical works, etc.

‘The Cleaning Maintenance Department is responsible for keeping the buildings clean; this involves janitorial work, protecting and cleaning floors, walls, furniture, art objects etc. The person heading this department not only must be knowledgeable and experienced in technical details—for instance, knowing what chemicals apply to what object—but also must be able to supervise a number of helpers. The buildings to be looked after cover a wide range, from the character of muscums to that of ordinary offices.

For more information see: www.usbnc.org

Please send your résumé to: Baha’i National Center Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (fax 847-7333430, e-mail )-.

Seeking information about Baba’is who

attended the University of Maryland School

of Law in Baltimore for the purpose of com piling a Baha’ alumni list. If you attended that

law school, or you know of someone who did,

please contact Navid Haghighi (phone ,e-mail ).

PIONEERING / OVERSEAS

The Office of Pioneering is eager 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’ National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail

).

‘The National Baha’s Archives is seeking original letters written on bebalf of the Guardian to the following: Beatrice and Theodor Fischer, John

jimmons, Bettina E. Fleming and James D. Fleming. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these Guardian’ letters is asked to contact the National Baha’ Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-853-2359).

‘The National Baha'i Archives has available several free information sheets on local archives and records. Any local Baha’i community wishing a set may send a request with a mailing address to the National Baha’é Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

BAGDADI,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Augusta native Nell Golden, who served as Khénum’ assistant.

Other talks featured John Hatcher, professor of English literature at University of South Florida, on “Your Obligation to Become Scholarly”; author and storyteller Darius Shahrokh on “A Glimpse of History”; and Tom Mennillo, associate editor of The American Baha’, on “Audacity and Wisdom: Two Sides of a Coin.”

Ewing spoke on “The Spiritual Path to Racial Unity” at an evening public meeting and Hatcher spoke at a fireside

preceding the conference.

Youths, in their sessions, hosted the speakers for vigorous discussions. Halfway through they were joined by members of Youth Out Loud, the Baha’f youth workshop from Conway, South Carolina.

Children enjoyed a virtues program, plus stories of the Central Figures by Shahrokh. Then they presented what they had learned to the adults.

The singing of Mansoor Sobhani and inspirational dances by Youth Out Loud rounded out the conference on Sunday morning.

As a finale, the children handed out scrolled prayers to everyone and the Spiritual Assembly presented speakers and

performers with framed copies of the ‘Tablet for Augusta.

Then this wonderfully spiritual experience came to a conclusion with prayers and stories of Zia Bagdadi at his gravesite in Westover Cemetery.

The conference has its origins in the dedication of the stone marking Bagdadi’s resting place. Nakhjavanf felt the previous stone was inappropriate and had a new one designed by a Persian-Canadian architect and approved by Khénum.

In the estimation of Assembly member Yvonne Harrop, “The feeling was strong this year that this was probably the most deeply spiritual conference we have had so far.”

Son

Baha’i House of Worship SPECIAL VISIT REGISTRATION

‘ou are invited to participate in the 2001

Special Visit Program at the Mashriqu’lAdhkar. These visits are created to offer the friends who live farther from the Mother ‘Temple a spiritual oasis in which to relish a memorable experience with this sacred place. Baha’is may bring friends and family who are not enrolled Baha’is, with the understanding that some activities may require supplementary explanation for these visitors.

OASIS

Please select the weekend for your visit (6 p.m. Thursday through 2 p.m. Sunday, in either case): July 5-8; register by June 1 * Aug. 2-5 ; register by July 1 Please note that low advance enrollment could cause either of these visits to be canceled.

Registration (please clip or copy this form)

Family name of your travel group: How many people?

• Tours of Baha'i House of

Worship, Baha’f Home, Media Aare

Services, Publishing Trust,

Archives, National Center City State ZIP Code © Presentati roperties and

Teale If not from U.S., which country?

emple conservation

• Audiovisual and film programs ‘Telephone—Home Work
• Baha'i Bookstore shopping

mail

.

Enrichment sessions from the Fax E Office of Pioneering, the National ‘Teaching Committee and the House of Worship

Garden teaching and guiding opportunities

Option to read in daily devotional programs in the Auditorium Classes and activities provided for children ages 5-11

List name(s) and Baha'i ID number(s), if applicable, of all registrants; use additional sheet as needed. te ages of children/youths (ages 5 and up may register).

(infant/toddler care not provided)

• Some youth-specific activities (if a

sufficient number register) Registration fees: Adult $25, Youth (12-20) $20, Child (5-11) $10

• Group photo; lakeshore park with Please send fees with this form; make checks payable to the Baha’i Services Fund.

beach; free-time opportunities International visitors, please send fees by cashier’s check in U.S. dollars.

Accommodations

‘okie can provide a group room rate (per night: one queen bed $89; double beds $99). Hot buffet breakfast included.

Howard Johnson's S| If you check option “A” below, we will register you with the hotel, but you must handle all financial arrangements with the hotel. Please plan to lodge with members of your own family or with friends of the same gender. This office cannot match roommates.

A. ___ Would you like to stay at the Howard Johnson? Number of rooms needed. Number of people in each room. If staying at the Howard Johnson, do you plan to use its shuttle service? _ Special needs? B. ___ Would you like us to send you a list of other hotels? C. ___ Will you stay with friends in the area? Phone #. Transportation/meals

Shuttle will be provided between the Temple and the Howard Johnson. Two lunches and some snacks are included. Other meals and transportation will be on your own. Alll registrants will receive Chicago transportation information.

‘TAB 4/28/01

Wilmette, IL 60091

Please direct inquiries to the Activities Office (phone 847-853-2327, e-mail )

April 28, 2001 Tne American BanA’i ¢ CLassiriep/News _ page 31 [Page 32]SEEKING?’ YOUR*RESPONSE

BAHA’i SUBSCRIBER SERVICE © 800-999-9019

2000: More Review

Dominius lesus: A Br: Interfaith I

• Gary L. Morrison,

Encountering the Xi

• Peter Murphy,

Review of Americans’ F:

Anthology”

alogue”

World Order

Now available!

Loulan Beauty: ¢ Mummies” ng for Poetry: a ite Poem Project

sense of the world . g the spiritual implications of 2 [st-century life

‘ssays on Significant 20th-Century Books

© Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis on Afr

• Dorothy Marcic on organizatic

• Gayle Morrison on convictry in Australia and
• Michael L. Penn on Oedipus today

© Concurrent congressional resolution supporting the Bah:

-American women writers management and change

avery in the United States

in Iran

Available soon: Winter 2000-2001 issue

Subscriptions:

US—$19 / year, $36 / 2 years Outside U.S. surface mail— $19 / year, $36 / 2 years Outside U.S. air mail— $24 / year, $46 / 2 years Single copy: $5 + shipping/handling

One Country

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

The American Baha’i

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

Brilliant Star

Bimonthly children’s magazine by the National Spiritual Assembly

For subscription information: See “Kid’s Corner,” page 19

Herald of the South

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

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

Which publication?

Send to:

Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription

Address

City

State, ZIP

Country

Sold to (if different from recipient):

Address

City

Home phone

State, ZIP.

Counuy Is this a gift subscription? (Circle one) Y N

Fax

Work phone

E-mail

Baha’i Distribution

Cheek/money order payment must be in U.S. do

service. Do not combine subscriy

from U.S. bank, payable to payments with payments for

back issues or other single items. Georgia residents include applicable sales tax. Credit card # (if applicable) Exp. date

Cardholder signature

Phone orders: 800-999-9019 ¢ E Mail orders: Bal

-mail orders: Subscriber Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta

GA 30336-2017 ‘TAB 4/28/01

IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY

Honor those you love on their special days or remember them

after they’ve passed on

You may get these Treasurer’s Office forms:

• On the Web: Printable forms for these special

‘contributions are available on the Administrative Web Site (wwew.usbne.org).

• Through the mail: Printed forms are arailable

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

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

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

INFORMATION ON YOUR

INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP

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

Just contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail ).

Use the Multipurpose Form below to respond by mail. Include the following special information (use a separate sheet as needed):

• Names and ID numbers of all Baha'is on each tip
• Names of each country visited, plus the one or two main localities, and date(s) of

visit(s)

• Main purpose of your travel

arise to meet the call of the Universal House of Justice for:

a MULTIPURPOSE FORM

CLIP oR Copy As NEEDED

For which event or a

Name Address

City State, ZIP Phone E-mail

page 32

Tne American BanA’i ¢ SeeKinG YouR Resronse

April 28, 2001 [Page 33]

Rose Perkal Gates was Knight of Baha’w'llah

ose Perkal Gates, a Knight of Baha’u'llah for Kodiak Island, Alaska, also gave distinguished

service as a pioneer to Switzerland and South Africa.

She passed to the Abhé Kingdom on February 2, 2001. She had lived for sevin a nursing home in Orange,

In a 1978 letter to the International Goals Committee, Gates wrote: “Actualbegan at the dedication of the Mother emple in Wilmette in 1953, when in response to the call for pioneers I said, ‘I would like to go pioneering but I would like to go toa warm place’ and I ended up in Ala: ded in Alaska for nine years,

Charlotte Stirrat served at posts on

2000. She was 82 years old.

harlotte Stirrat ascended to the Abhé Kingdom from her pioneering post in Swaziland on March 30,

helped to form two Local Spiritual Asand served for two years on the al Spiritual Assembly of the of Alaska.

om 1960 to 1966, Gates pioneered to Switzerland, where she helped to form the first Local itual Assembly in Locarno.

On May 23, 1968, G: rived in Johannesburg, South . She lived in East London, serving on the Area Teaching Committee, and in Cape Town, where every Sunday she would “pack lunch and refreshments ... drive 150 to 200 miles in a day . ingil praying for the village w ning to visi

She served as secretary of the Nation

She first answered the call to pioneer in 1957 when she and her then-husband, Joao

IN MEMORIAM

Listings for “In Memoriam” come from the Membership Office of the Baha'i National Center. To report the passing of a Bahs’t in the United States, please contact the Membership Office, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail IS-membership@usbnc.org).

Eudora Adkins Donald B. Ford Edward J. Jacobs Green Valley, AZ Auburn, CA Bellingham, WA February 13, 2001 January 28, 2001 February 8, 2001

G. Patrick Barker John J. Gallagher Joseph L. Kubik Albuquerque, NM Folsom, CA San Antonio, TX February 7, 2001 February 6, 2001 December 30, 1998

Burrell D. Bullock Rose P. Gates Marlene Morris

Los Angeles, CA Orange, CA Port Huron ‘Twp., MI

February 12, 2001 February 2, 2001 February 4, 2001

‘Thomas C. Byrne Debra F. Gentry William Ogden Canton, OH Hempstead, NY November 5, 1999 November 28, 2000 December 8, 2000 San Francisco, CA Raymond J. Charpentier Sheila E. Granger Delbar-Dokht Pari

Pawtucket, RI Red Bluff City, CA Santa Ana, CA

March 9, 2001 March 3, 2001 February 16, 2001 Laura M. Cramer Clara Gray Henry A. Reed Jacksonville, AR Santa Clarita, CA San Antonio, TX February 13, 2001 February 27, 2001 February 9, 1999

Raymond R. Crum Regis Guest Eric B. Scott Springfield, IL Las Cruces, NM Sioux Falls, SD November 17, 2000 February 3, 2001 November 9, 2000 William Cudjoe Bruce W. Hartman Nettiemae Sherrick New York City, NY Altamont Springs, FL Lima, OH February 28, 2001 March 14, 2000 November 16, 2000 Elna-Dawn Tann Rose M. Hilpert Ruth P. Silva Portland, OR Berkeley County, WV Portsmouth, NH

January 27, 2001 February 3, 2001 March 1, 2001

Nancy A. Dixon Dorothy Ingram Richard Spotted Elk Valparaiso, IN Bridgeport, CT Porcupine Dist., SD January 2001 February 21, 2001 September 28, 2000

Maurice J. Fazlollah - Helen Underhill Alexandria, VA Abington Twp., PA February 13, 2001 a February 10, 2001

al Teaching Committee and was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly. “In all my pioneering days,” she wrote in 1976, “never has it been more clear to me that purity of motive is one of the most important attributes for a pioneer to have. Without words, Africans feel and know when you are sincere and respond accordingly.” In 1986, Gates left her pioneer post, in poor health and with failing eyesight, to join her family in California. In one of her numerous letters to the International Goals Comm this devoted daughter of Bal said, “I would ki shout this from the roof-tops all world: SERVE! SERVE!

three continents

Jose Fiuza de Silva Pinto, left for Africa. They served as pioneers in Mozambique, Holland and Portugal for eight years before returning to the United States.

In 1969 Stirrat began looking toward more pioneering. She served at the National Center for several s and returned to Texas, where she spent several years trying to find a door to let her take up service in Brazil, because she knew Portuguese. ¢ had tried for two years to get a permanent residence visa to Brazil, suddenly the doors to Swaziland flew open and she returned to Africa in 1971.

In 1979 Stirrat visited Asia, completing an assignment Shoghi Effendi had given to her when she had been on pilgrimage in the early 1950s. Her six-month teaching trip took her through India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Malays ingapore and Sri Lanka. She returned to Swaziland.

In 1981 she pioneered to Namibia for four years before finally returning once more to Si nd. ®

Leslie Marcus spent 21 years serving at the World Center, most recently as project accountant and purchasing agent for the Mount Carmel Projects.

Leslie Marcus was pioneer in Luxembourg

fter 35 beloved F

rs of serving our abroad, Leslie Marcus pa on April 8, 2000, in White New York. He was 70. He and his wife, Audrey, were retired from the Bal World Center in aifa, 1

A pioneer in Luxembourg from 1961 to 1975, Marcus elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly in 1962, the first year of its formation. He served as the mbly’s secretary before being called to the World Center.

At the World Center he was office manager in the Resident Engineer's Office for construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Just

The last eight of his 21 years in Israel, he worked as project accountant and purchasing agent for the Mount Carmel Projects to construct the Terraces and new Arc buildings.

Upon retirement in 1996, the Marcuses returned to the United States, sumed serving the Faith s usual devotion and exper

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Audrey Marcus, and a daughter, Della Lee Marcus, herself a long-term pioneer in Romania. @

Canadian Nancy Hart was known in U.S. South as traveling teacher

INGES Hart, a homefront pioneer

in her native Canada and international teacher, touched many hearts during he: ral years living in Florida and teaching in the Southeast.

She passed away August 2, 2000, in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, where she had co-founded the local Baha’f community some 20 years before

A native of Toronto, s

he traveled to various in 1969 teaching the ‘ly on Native reserves.

In 1969 Hart moved to Florida, soon serving on the Spiritual Assembly of

Assembly development resources on the Web

Lee County (and later of Gainesville). She also was a member, in turn, of the North and South Florida District Teaching Committees, and actively taught the Faith not only in Florida but also on many trips through Georgia and South Carolina.

She later lived on the island of Guadeloupe for six months, traveling to teach and to a: in formation of

to ak the Faith. “Her power of attraction, her love for ’u'llsh, and a basic earthy sense of humor will be dearly missed,” wrote a longtime U.S. friend, Bob Riggs. #

ick on “NSA Departments,” then on “LSA Development”

April 28, 2001

Tue American Band’t * Ix Memoniam

page 33 [Page 34]

wil 21 a, el | Irwgs Cecil FRIENDS OF PERSIAN CULTURE ASSOCIATION

SI ced ngs GiB diteedd 59 Shp! Saad ghlareys garth BIL SLES gemrajilh hel prone a a WT gocoy 5 Wal Bb, res UL 39S Cl Slt gee AS9 SE oll te abe one a Np) gsleel y Sap po 44 Te aE A592 weld le de WD De W4 Ob 2 ety) GAS ASo 2p ld GSE bd Sle Bale » BLA oe Col 75> bog Gale Soo oi wal ys ob ols} 39 la oll ty ey en 22 QUIK! 5 Jolie 86 59 geral gy Gblgee Soy COL! gene Gearge «ctl aes 552 call waged dale el zl igs 9 et they Gaby lel p56 gle pe

way ald pls JL a Jes WWaS 5 ables 5 able 5 VES» Gly ad! Geub,

SSC ob Jt plans Jer yo of Jae g HV) ok PG ST CLES Ql GI 555) Gly Wyndham Northwest Chicago Hotel, 400 Park Boulevard, Itasca, IL 60143, Telephone: (630) 773-4000, Cu! Woe epee WOT Seale 1 aT oS line ee GI Se elasighzar ly, Ledzacartasles cul lb, libel WS HLS gerd L nj) Geo kt Hey SF ryder Opes Wi HG y LAS 5»

AEV-YYT-TOT) 9 AEV-YNT-TOTA

wt sale oll wae 93

Goslok Btpdle pd da gF Gail iS Joeo 92 9 gm STU pemrgipl dupe a Lib)

AES jor Ae STG

bY> 0 D¥o Fe (Qu We ggYL5) ayo b+ oY¥> b> (Je re NQVLes 5

ey tak Jove o> Lb SEA 355

tle LBL ATO VVT fees a ylaty dhe gy Lenina 529) do pO Lil) ail iS Jono Jia 32 lb! 903) Gly SRY Gebel 99 AS tly AIO WIS ay ate onlin (39 AT pats) GAS Gogquaieo yi I! stilgy 4S pS upSeo Gib! Persian Arts Conference Gils) Sdj2 yell 39 OS ph gly 4S ages pSdzal

oY> VO

il! Sam yd Olsen 9d Coreil BVLe Geil OT redo 5h 72 OT pe Sl entgi ol Sy To) pratima T= CaanST Ys

wannenecenccnnnnnnnennnennnnnnnnnnnnne eS women Salgild og 6b cs ee eee eae ee OW pod obi wannnnnncnennnnnnnnnnnmnnns (WG Gee) W095 ota -------2------nna-a- (BL 4 WT Ge) SlenS jy otaha wacnscnccncencencnnentenetcneenes (emeagin Sad Ny Se Oshents Vilas) Se 2S pened Neg SIO y Ogan ee IWS eich clad NF --—-------n-—— nanan nnn nnn nn nanan nnn MIS, Byles See 8 ee ee ONS reo chisel - oon nrmnnn nnn lO alee

Kents 92 Hg I Hal 3! hud le erg eld Sy waeeee (pg Naa TG emo 1) pote Fats 99 = (gb Ham OUT) GUST

Cogzgls olor 1 og slab lad)

dee IS 53 ke lal wpe obol aS oy oat lil abe jl wl»

plu ley dine gate GIS Gb tole ol 32 6S lnl ly oWasely ols scowl ull a 4) Wasdlh Lil

4S polartl Lacil actiS JL. cu 59 aul ol age 51 aS | gle gliser jl lw BAS 245 set 5 pede Olina ay cal pleat ae SI ope lak, tele ul 19 rape OLT ates Kapal ily tule »» Gol JO tal op gol jh Sete & Jy cl peg AS, HE lear} 52 G pL! 09,5 BEGINS oe SI Ae ells 5 ls co oe Bibs Gel Le 2 Lb lz! obeze S03 Miley pee ey all pal ‘ pee Oo ped

dlacwe GLb! 5! he by, Ji shasl Cy & 6S che ele 5 OL they BOS yp o> Ly ge Sy IP al 56 SU Coal Ey apllols 4S cpio!) Coal ee

Opes gl & elgdlyne Opa

She lke g Bl aS) BUT L alee ol Ath objge ayle Lt ele 32 Coll 9 ND Onis 59 tI dee 5 cop 2 32 oly Jol) (cel oad E52 Panis Talks \V

BI Gab S whore OHS, pbiel Jas pre Og thle pts Ge SG | Ol! are lal bk & Ghel deer alr pipe we Olel jt alse oS 2 oS looped AL BAS So2 SrpAS 32 Coll roe 9 Ly age Se jks Co ypme aS nth wll & obsle jl de cole bs! ule y sald Col 1S GAS yo Sly oli. Tidabl aztls 2505

ila 4S wth UT Lb by, bbe alo syey GWarvels jal pare Clings Do loges slots, VG Pe ole cela aS

Chae Sp deter IS QWavly (L351 G clades ofL3 pel Jhb cto L Le te I pil os oe Ke le 2? Chmjpe gl oy eS SOS gS, SI pa AE dS OLS Ged Lene Ae tly Bey SF dete 52 GWarly Dae she GE 5 pelrrl Goa ol che > Se oh lave, oH JL oily 2 ole Blt YI » 53 SU! 9 Srlple tlds » Jarre Qplis Geak,

alo ayry SSrly Gly ae SL UES

alah 2 7 Tae TOLER I TT Oe ARNON Sage pl g 6b yt Je Jb Jb lb HOW Nae) aca Fenmiiat nartanced bes hise, moive? lneild Lapa orth dx. PU MPaa : 4 bre Se aS pe HL le

Se Ra ae aE ee eae OTE NN ee eee Cl pod Sa1gid oli 9 I Sask, 3) b Wb Susl, & ySivl,

seas BRE OR COTA ETRE BO a Sy els he hy Jime 25> Sle ToS ay toils eel oles

SR SIO AAS LT EEN TST ND 0 ade ahi, tS oe re (AFY) VY¥Y-YOFO 2.53 (ATV) VT-TOrd

eee NS ro Chl — =n nner nnn lye mommies GHWT ghetel claadil Ge ee ee page 34. Tne AMERICAN BANA’i* PERSIAN _ April 28, 2001 [Page 35]Slegkes ans Cle PERSIAN DEEPENINGS

SEN get 22 eu Cbagles 1a GLE Sez pF cee Gleb WLS y pl ee SILI Sobel GOL MB G2, ob Je L3G Gol i gate Me opel AES BILj op LEW gl SLE GIGI

Ae SUIS ey JL 50g Cy ore Gl 2 SS Shite Sy ob obj © Gel Olybe SO glans Jae aS HG ate 2 aps sagt GSAS ple GYMS Col ls ile

Le skee 2 SEIS el AI! Hl al Oke 32 Hla y te 9 AUT 4, 5 gylass 338 gliskeys » gel abl

Me te te ae Aig 9 Ald layin TRAVEL TEACHING

29 Corr lal hl jl glide a2tiS JL 5» PHS SE 4 GLSI y GLE! 52 4 wh du 2s Spl o> go eels oy BShy GED 5 gles oSU,S slater & slr Glatt So LAT ly deb Sl B® © | oT so was

PB ey GUL SINS 6S Slppe ole GI wee goto abl 5 ey er Gly, Jou S23 sale oi So sd clas Cle wee Ghee SES Ole s ay io

S shee Kos wit ob onl G39 4 3 glee «be CS CLG Cle Mligteed Meat, QUIT os

ae ae ae aie lS oo PUBLICATIONS

DUT IOUS Sieg ey Lee HIS JL 36 OLAS Sy oo Sly oer eo gle el AS etd al ote Fe a olny? ADL: BUSI» pate Ge pe pr ttle ed Ob) & Geel GGL Ll 23 3G sleris, 5 plan y Legros & |) 05 Gearwh ps abs LA Oy Gees le Bee SF AS Sept | ol So pe 5 rHay 95 Ly Ply ees onto sh oS 5 libs Bipele

BIE ep Coldeel 4 cae LS WLS gal 39) seby opts aoe ple Jol Lu Sy clare he GL! jo PLES y Fost Spo w ee Se IS Sle hes Be bh 4 chee AT GI Sle se etl Gn

Me ae te ae 9319036 olole NEWLY ARRIVED FRIENDS ele ploy Je TO) Se VV Ge 22S 2p JL! hur iby, Ble o oly 2 else & bos! 52 ee Gl EL," of

why Los &

NS hy los, Je By are Lage Sie 42 S55 plore 5 slo Cus jl Loyd Glacl Jor 3 OBI I St NS LI Wr ele Ae GS AHS Ue 200 955°

52 Che 6S op Sept opre + gs! oo SS Sart 48 2595 gi IS GI LEB Syl Sart & pale ge ctl JS oe Gere b ste eS eS re op ol BANS Cope 4S eu 00S oyro Gl OSL & “at oll

9 tls ab sxl> jype Cle opr ree Sid SLs eS et ls 99989 Mane AST Salo Ab a sre Eye Glee HS BARD SR GUT 5 bd le ay Gide Gi E EM Saye one ead 9 li Six) se wT SS

we SbS5 NEW PUBLICATIONS

NS SRLS Jail, ba» MI pMOCS AG et eel olailly! ao -Gdle ope Gb ck tl bt o5 oe ole dE RE Se be DUT 9,3 DLV ($155 Jpb 59 oLall,! cl deel s Gl® jl pbs » hel as Sot 5 el ole 5 EUS B0k & 25 GI! le Sle BS ES LET ge pbtl y ee baie rege WUT pes!

ds He Gt Obl al Sle 32 LT gal QR! OLS SL pre & padll de 5 Sle pl & > Sr3 Spe WWVO JLo yo dle Ope oly go Jolt UL OLS pel 5 GL LIK ob LY & bla! Ske QUI 99 cul Je pl tl Sabl , OF wy kel y dey tie olla! bal G6 lis 42 5 aS 2 OLS |, Lgl Ole es AS 3 Ke jl ae SL et jhe he

2 Pd A 3 Soy Soul LE L Ub OLS" OF Se ape 32 OES STL th Sly Jul ae 4 2 Soy 9 sore pe Abe jl jp et ty ty 9 SIG GI Nand bos yg goo go “OSL A, wel snd y Stew colle

dla 32 ak AG 32 Jl oe jl AY 4 obs 9 PLE slay 3! GL p> Sie at Ob aw weal org Garagty 5 WII d At Culdy2 oy50 2 Spl UT le a be OS ool we Ve Sob Gs Shree be pes wb ol 9 OUT Ll oat ae ey obs dee GIS CL Pe antl GWG! oS Gu G GJ, Je 4 dpb! Cele 9 Ll gd AST age 9 Hl eS 9 wales LS aS Col oat 95351 OLS a Glas cel oe gh pe SLT ol Stee Gleb) Gabe HL of sls ge ole ade 4 cul Yo VA OLS Images International JL 22! pn! We FYY-AV--F0Y0 cass les

We ie ie ae

she foe Cale 52 cw, claple PERSIAN TRANSLATION OF NSA MESSAGES ON THE WEB AS pcg ge Yl pu ppe gluse elt “ Be a de Gly Jou Gory ob ey CVU Qe Jobe QL > ub 05 © CLO! She cel 5,5 515 glewgs Gap eed 52 doce Vals wb 1) OWS RE eG or HIS 1S be Sey doe QL oh ol Hb oes

1, Departments ASS Gano - Uy www.usbne.org

1, Persian/American Affairs Ge ae y 22S CL! CoIy5 daly sd glhet,s Lect 59 ales: oll alee Cal dt oer Qn HS | Sel,

wh»

baiwgs 9 O13, 9b 4 IN MEMORIAM

sy HP sp jr Cle S pat oh 5 oped oper tel OSbe & Gy +S So AS tee 5 CH eS ls Slatl y et G2) GIO

YH go Vers JL pees VA 52 4S spe Gl Stil shige opre Gel OSs NE sets C3L 29 dS! ghy Gwe (OSU) ey nl Spal Sage Se jee Gad w MKD ot 52 JGR ay at IB Ue GS KI a 0S owl SKA & oS Abs Sy th OUhe jt tS & SI Se a 6 Se CLL lel ppl ngs Gl uate plac! thy IE doe aye S Cth ene Gab! p> GUS ILS GSS Cede gil & CAI ayy

mom the oleae 4 de 4 OE ML dy GAT 32 oS ale V 59 5 at pliel ew wo Garb jl police buSeo ae SLI ge +4 Gy Mr At Swe & hail oe olathe Gs ad, Sse wy Sag gblye 0S goylpe 49 eS aber jl Labels 42 pla, ro SaaS shar of ose glans Jue > Sipe Se

Lal ley ay aS ay ale ploy! cul, 59 Gly Les sleaze GLel pp5I ages jf ale aly Ay ee a ale NSN ey he 99 ST pope 3 Sabal gyal a ald chee 2 9 CAS 5 Warren PI 42 SU G95 GE 52 4 oy Jptde SiprlS 49 Ae OE ole 5 ss dere ole shee BES ay gl 5 2S Colo! Sat w vol WLS 559 tiS,2 UT syhe bo Jl 52 aby pe 252

Bae le eles ObT ss pele 2 9 a9 ebel s SEG & ols GLE 5! wok; glans? 4 glinky GbS1S 4 JLo pl Sr gleel ber o> 28 oS je Ghee ololoy edt ols 13 GS sas a Sle DLs obi

April 28, 2001

Tue American BanA’i ¢ PERSIAN page 35 [Page 36]“SPER STAN:

salar lal ce orb! Glesyslens ose pe ay Gol fet Ae 3) Bl Gly tee bh Sul; Cert 02S loys ele jt ghee gl 9 Le 23? Ger SS poe pry ee AS AS opts ty Le pp te Ae lS leaps ues JL Gas Gis aly 9 Cs pus Olaebl JE gre 32 Se Cul slat, U alors ghee 39 ae pe 5 oe Ld Gee Srey L195 Gly Cie pine Sy ohitly tele gd pet a ch Ae y wae , Pg de sald bb sibs gl posh y pl ee AS ot Ind Atl BY WS Ly SL 5 9 agg sald Lt oly WS tee Le Glo y otiReny 39 Ly obeys Lt oS palit ete Sar pe Oyky Oe NE SpE LiL eS 52 +8 GIA! UT cigar slele 4 3156 gayle we CTU gly Ge by, Jiu ole gltbe sbl* bbe Ae es he le 5 gpl cee de ae ee AU! gga HUQUQULLAH SEE lee Y tll lS Lol jl Sy SE Lethal ool se abe ILI alg ol oad Slat cle Gl onl lhe 5 Sde Geethol jl SS » Ls! AI Gp de So jl Ub! > tap) ot At Opes peel Gs pes ht Cee | 9d Clube 957 Lee la! 5833 lb aS Lgl tl OS ape HL, lS ohh 4 gre Ae Skt & | JL gl 2,5 pal,d 2,20

JN plwl,

Pe gt | Gp lol Opes pry Jobe y plor,S Pt Sob lol SF therpe es WL, Ope Les AS ay Mls NEL ell lle Qae 52 WS cul fk I le ly AF lewy> Cole 5 glial SLs jl UT gle uh ob OL,

aL VA baie & dG

AES Ee eS atest

be pet Clred BF oles

COMMEMORATING BAHA'I MARTYRS

aah AUST pope glass 0S Sle G aye VA 5h gl Se a” oly Le At wld LS Sil 32 Ge JL GVe Jul

Vee Jal ASS by 2? LES bl I OY 2 ola! pS! ol Hh Sle Glo SEH at tals IS, Coby WIG» ee LS Joes jl gle Le Bo Gl wel oat dS jb 52 IWSVIG de

one daly 32 G Sty OLB! Gl MIV-ADY=Y Ys © Sy Gols SVG te

endS teed 0S arcades ofey Cylic au ay Spal Sle s3jld jhe gle wb atl ope Si DUT 5 C1 AST ps9 pple lt pole pac Spe Sees S at Shl » joy wie Jello colar 5 Dl Gy Ope 5 Glare Shy Sylar 5 ad Les yl ola & | bel Ope 6S Ls tle 0ST py bs Gb pce Ste ote wy of alee oes ALS QLly dele alr 4 whore 5 Oe Spe she gxls Cll gars cdly> Oe SUS GE ee el Sol oy Gryll sire CYL gli, bs oS wae JSS L SIS werd obs 9 a0 of 5l

2? Sak gxtne saad Cod 9SY WS dey sy ole LE Gb oly pS Gate Lb oly tere dey ply 6S pat acer pli ole BLS jf Gapal slg Lule al GE » O35 walle ay Coed Odd Ar Ge 9 gale Why, 4 Als 2 5, cee & olSe 5 Vy ene 5 GS Odie dbs 5 me ee le 2 EASA el 09,5 GGG! 5255 oly gl ne jl he Gyre joule ly aro StS 2351 we Spl olily deol hE He

ole 6S SUES y» GL, gone BE SSA, Jee cola Glaser bb ly Sele Ile 5 QWapS GUILE DEI G2 SLEW IS 2 0951729399 OLS Spr JK lle » jh ecleles y Les GLite 5 aSp 0 LI le Sapl 52 Sle ele dele 5b Slate ale es Gly I Sapiloy os at Lt le pts Gall Ile WS ee Se wee © gob 3! GAIL Gee 9 be Sb, Spe GELS oles y 2S se Ce GAs pp cel IB) yy Sly OAKS 9 1ySle Ned day jt gle © Gall abl SE Gyro tae jt pile 5 GIS Cole gene PS Je go GiBar Sj de spe spl canals SUES Soe AY ol I ond Gb i Ad ee es ee ciel see LI Sag BU ite pp Ve golal /pelcrl Gomby » glaok

wed aol

slope 4 Obs Ghlio 4 Golf Gary aye

le 32 sich pee SEAS Heb pte ole LS pe oF at CO yy tS Glie Serb jt els ee ob & il Oly ohye Sy o5yT vat Sle Gro Geaol, sla aS ey 29 See GET es ih a, Ped slel y che shpree jI Sulu, 327Seo atl patil ergs 53/45/11, om? wT oy & Sole pp B shy oll, BsUIi may) copeel coleategn gfarmale voy araS’ apetey Athy Saad spe we | Wer 5 ate Vy fhe dibs pee oll of 2 0S a2, Ke olAe 4 Opa> 4 SSL peb As

SDs athe at ole CS orb pls JUL GT wok pp eee btw og bb of jt spoke Urthe gs Glo maale acl .o9,5 Juli gle 4 bpp GUILE J il ps Se SY GUL ttt Del a bye SUAS pepe CLUE! 9 Sl (UT JUS y te el bay, ol Sled! » pele! dey Sle LS GeueL, 4 baby Car Sertb b S oe St ae sat weld e552 ob pl 5! TG 32S aA oes age ole BS wel Bg Mee Glory 5H 9S als KS Lola 9 etl of gb iS Sey rhe LUI ate oI Ph bahl Gb 25 GGULS G 24,5 6 OSS a cl E539 IE 3? I Sy te eS Sle

ee Se ee eb A le orn S lS 2 SUL Seb, » srl ASS whe cane b phe GL gil a She 6 tS LL Dates ghtrens a ypls SF Ly poops BL CLI Va lee UL 5 ops ole ls wer SBS Ww Sle dee le 5 LY bee ella” sybp el b-, 1.5 Le et Spee ty AS te Caryl Ath spyl Gleb! of Glel jo Lt O35 | IL Ly Lot alee thy Opa SLL 5 GUbII as

ws LLG Gad Jyate

pbc! Jaticw (Las!)

Krol ley Sle OK ply boyl cle! © oles YOON Spd YE Sipe

et slew glel

drole Sly Go Gare HEI Gb ky oF! le oS jal 52 5 plage JLyI pl oly She SIE 4 AF IGG Quyylts ole Glacl pO Ey ate ie CYL 3S Cas te ley, Jie & olT Cale Geol» ee 589 fel re ad lathes SLL + BI gplae pte te Spl Ces ule ile Reale Be UL yo aylde GT 05 oI eel 99 ake 5 i Ory sul & SS s Gl pees Hey HE at chee | os S aby oy

AF a9 FNS r235pel hve 52 sale ol pe Be ge SI, 5 ree 5 galt it glee Siler GEL 4 GIG6 guyslte Ole ody She 2pake ay) ey ad pe i SIG & 6S LT OLS CES Clee Gb Qt AS 42 St oleh! 5 Gxt Hoy CAL Sle Mon Sp ape aryl ghey ee ool sla glu Large 9 tee F gly OL bE at iS lily GS 5 0d lio ale Gas Jb oo at vhs ade 4» Jatt jo Le yb y at wh LLS ody dg Stl OG! Chel

Oly Reale SF wat ors (Taos

page 36 Tne AMERICAN BAnA’i * PeRsIAN {Eo

ee

April 28, 2001

af oor

[Page 37]

SG dete Sip LS tie Lees 52 OLT I ee GlLemnle Joe 5 des 99 obT GULL spt placed Sheepad HL 52 4S VAN pales ply 4» 2? Kale 4$ at ltl Gb 4 op SL jg ate ae GWE 2S Glas 215 of jl Joo JL SAWS 5) Abies Jol 59 SF atl & 52 ol 5! das 9 Ad, Gaaoly shel WS 52 wel Cun voy 99 3 sl aS Cul Sue slay te wal UW 4 JI EL al p59 oper bl ay wey Glel 9 SUBIC gals Hy dre » sle gy! 4S ath Gels 4 es OLb 4 GW Goa alee IB y EL GL aol of LSE Le oy, pole ALS 2b 5 228 Jrdne SY 5 2b oj 09555 cele SF oa; aS piel our blu 2,4 Gly pled Leslee b oly ole GU! Guasls asl OUT SSS 5 Cop OL > Mls! Sle Garb ol eo Sj cslasl 4 pelel dL Gleb Glo! de ope Cb sl 55 Cb isietl- Cb

Alls AIA sly, ere Sl > b oj G 3S Sorts by ow ls, Jobu Lb sure 5» Sy age ab Grete SUIS lel cee

ol 2h oILs » Sle! ou Ls 5» BL BL 2 G 9,4 ols 255 Heb 32 ale 228 Sypte apt vole Col iY AS Slat 5 o SUS yin srl 39 Be Sry 4 HL well Get 5 ots le aap sje Lalla col ol aly gu sy wl SLT wal ILS 59 SL 5 92,5 pelts ols ae WET Sree 9» GedLd oles y ee ee 9 ort 4 Bylo St wey Glel 2S GES 095 say31 Biot Goptd yl, antl apy ath AKA glael jl Sip Clk nL ope ys Lb pb be ol jl pay tot wh 59 Lb pe Glee’ 9 Ae wld GALE sn 5 bape gle! Ht Gpe eB by Lape jl lind jo pS ee pay tee ele Er 9? el ayy al Joe Seas nog Male SASob 5 Grete rAd Sletle

RL ES ge SA barby ol pp S all LLG! gel doe jl Gar aS tl acth ob we lee el leaps hale wy aly Ope ple PU gael BE 4s shy Gudty sly be of oS, 4 & oles pe il GS claw, wth Gate less Cbly> jee GUL ly 59 5 lob ly OUT 4 ahs ge Ly Ope bd oS ue Gade bule gSL 99 La WS OT BB wy) Be BSL bw ape Hered tn Fe le le Als Bes GLE gL SN ALS pd 5 AS Gey NBS gol WY Cus sual

Abs gyloge p5Y GyISh3 5 At wea Ea

Ses be! 2 5 eb Hl Hy Pe ds el ele Ee be GI WL Glee Us) BU, ASS iI eS Il LG 5 (San de, SAS, tS pals (ple sali 4S 09) on

2 27Stly Lol oe 39 law 4 apt abl yo Ople 22 Sole pal 4 rd Gly OUISI GI ane Gg be je slays GhWs pln

de eh Ge att ie DI 2 wat qth antdS y2 Sb p50 4 Co OL pest age GIS sey Gabe ey aul G tl 55 sole 5 elo ot» wal, wt Gus me 4 AL 2,1 ope) cles Glo! jl re & 5 HS -ayt obel Se 9g ee ly phe Gurl, 29 Sapte Shy Mall gay ELI 4S ayy oat o Ll ware b pooh GUL SS bo oly el Ob ae BE SG ab; of jy las wala LS Jabs 5 e520 ayy oly bse bls 5 | BE ey SIS eel SL WLS gs Wo9 1IB SWLS! 32) Gare Leps dob IP 22 SOS 5 see pire Gousb, JLT Gly AS AB ls ey ge ad AY 2? Glade Glalet 5 hs Jobs & oy ts abe vasley Mall ge LILI EMbl a cs} oul

Oat poles IS he ele 65 Ol age O25 WS 9 Vpn lil al p> > aj) sox yl aale ble ol ahs 2 poaul, Sbol jl slab LG 45 ols > st Gt SUS Ly pales ose bbl LS Qs tee a Al AS colse jl soldnt apes tS mage wb Glu, es HF GEIS LSS 2» QL! Ls GLb 2597023 CLL y Ole 4 Les oli LI ez JENS 59 5LS aap oylal CAL aye tat Ae JUS Ses thal oI p> hu Gly Jou pers ee > Sle Ole Grp > Gels jf lis Slings pe Glas LG plies doy, SN SAS pe tL wee of 50 4S gel OWS ephte tipel Ree Gul apes pay) nee nee chee Als! iI Slay Gly Sole ob ohh stl slullas sloadle ysl 535 5

LY Ste sly 5¥ aL

BEBUS, Mel aecepe ls ol j0 AS, cpp iacal leo WEG 4 oLsl ons oltine wh ot BF eG Tyo Ly pl pyle dees asl aS tl onl hee 3s Se Ge eGy ee ole ss Bre IS ee bo ey HL LL, Shy ST Col rE QE ae SUL Jpb 2 SF as my Cape hore Goes Sos 5 45 oe! 22S Sol tay 5 GEDLS lel AS tps w bye ee 2S dee apt igs SGI ESL b ody Se les wlSe aj Gee, & lansrelin 5 Cijlee Cre slacl tine iige wel glae bs Led Bales b oher 2b aby ool GLI, ah She oT Nips yy sees ple ob oe US SLeILS ght 2b SOI gs pes Ce 2 SLB! SUSLS Jolt 05 944 pes! LL Ws SF GF SASS Hey YF th Sled ge Clabes LU 2059 wh Lol Ls soil Lb .o55

Vy 62rd LSI bs ee Aap Ke Sa Leas Fe Re ob Gory dbs & DIS! 2» Hraey Sle Se Ort Gb A Hr 5 Sir IS he Ribs we of ys Lol oS AT ope es Ny Spam ay OLY! iI grb Glan one es Ud bine Spar 595) Le Yep of we 9 ASS OT jay 9 Hg rays Joel, CI 3, by gost, eS dhlolws ps Gp» | os)! Milos GU wy gle GLA anls WIS OL! Tole Wel gy ott Sap b oS 2p S sind ne BLT ES ge Ht ol 2S wl HL! L Felt 5 IG y StF 05 js a) bs SL pt okey Cl sls 4 JSQ5 5 olarel GI Cee art lel LS Se ose 2 oS Ghy ole of 42 be 9 ay wale Ll ole » SE abe 5 Pil sek & ape bl Shay co Yb Sls tls GUILE ofS Els» tht cde 52 Ty Se Syd elie cla dolby

bb WS he ele oy Lt ant Gleb »» phe pest bs Gly wee li Wl b+ 19S als Crsler ele of dey 3 at oe wall SUELG HSL 6S te Glee Gly DLS OSI slabs Gh. yo pay stn Gras S255 plilie gerol 4 bob a5 Las, jt le depere Jule old ol Ate ay) Se col See pe BS Jy tee BSS eet SSE L lb ol IS ther b Sy cel ols gil ope IES ye SF lye GI seo ol ns pole JB 5 Jer gs oh) Sad dle ele ag EL oS geleel y goladl $45 5 eg A, SL 5] Ol pS wih > Se SW ool jl pay St eB ol Slr S el Sue So aw 39 0S JE 5 Wl Oo o> AHL antl apes Uy BSL, oll 5 Gay 4 6S nt pe ule Cl yee So ae Sut AS she 32 SO ipl pe Ul 4S doy tee rele AS sla a 5 wth Fay pel aS oy, seals gees 9 he Glo! goth & pS gen | Cm 9 pits Sod 5 sey be

patie SIN Gps ols Ell Soul 3! ow pV Obeade ul LyytS gol yo Ghe 2b tae S » cere plpel Gob 51 Sy SG bs 23 Gly IS ape 99 sah pal eb » 52 otf Ll til seas Gab, 2 OSA ard gle Ree gle Ghoel gle gee, th acth | tied alee y Uta, jt oli & nj op alee Shel I aS Coils sels tind Gee Pb Sle pl fF wKly Oke b ere 5 re cl 39 S golal AES St ow ty ty ely off Gide & IS & oS poe Ud GWE wT a tll cole a5 6 5S ee OE Bot 9 ot idl Shel SI be yy olay tS DW LS

Ae Spt il 8 Cal el oy wel In

April 28, 2001

Tue AMERICAN Ban’ * PERSIAN page 37 [Page 38]

Seo Sore JUE gl one GUIS I Cm UST AI! edt ole Gls 4 ey 2 DE! Gap OU Sle b Ha SUAS Atle ColoaysT ey pee orb | JLibl BL 32 egy? 2S aly ay pre 4S se lS aldo gen GEL, 52 Sle Cole

PMS 2 tinh Clee oli, 15 ened a So ely Jb! SAIS ly ples cars pal SS She phe GUN 6 EL I » OID SI 6S? CLUS UT op ole HL 32 de Qe ajlsl Glog, 5 2-5 ype Spl eles o2 LL pS he Se oS 5) Sl 32 et el HE > by how bbw & lt Ge lathes y AS SL HyI> JUbI Cu 7 52 SF slats gale bul tied Clee & aed gol tbl) Lt oul o> Sy IE LIS & yy eee He shail Al 2 whe cate IG 5 Sos apt 9p Se S Sib AS No oes GS SLY Gly S oS, oth 29 HS ge SF Sol GGL ES tips Lene GT Mx SS jt ae Sb SY GUS Ube ba TLS 4 Whe Sil 32 ay ol S bot jl as 4S 2h > lea, jee Cady SUI > 5 ape EL VG LS pl Le get AS AS aS ge oe po by JLab! GLE WS Soaks Shel Stipe tiptl Gomme S ond SUIS SIS ye dy HS ree wh pS pee eatS 32 3! EI yd 5 Cw! (Sn, el pe ty JBI SLL JK Lib, 05 pat Suns tinsel GS pe eee oul LS Jyree & DL2s jl lol gles, Hipel oy ple our LS sia JURE! MLS

EAS 99 card cr!

22 OSI stiped Cling WS 9 S055 & Gyre Gls yo ole SURES Yay LG we “gepglte demepe Ghyte God Ll aS ld, 295 2 ocslee Coe slacl S 2% 5 sibs 4 at SLI ws IG envy 2 Lol 4 SS 32 Src ee 2 He > sol tl (USS! ke > ae KS 22 dpe GE cetort ot silo aS Glytt,S lager Gar GS 6 ol dl tinal Lee > She pad sles 5 Ate Sh HII 2 Gl erate gay? SI pa tS gt eS jd |) Coad er pe eb NS seas 4 Ate He chil Gol als Gea pe jl wll 5 ae b Se Ly ail le Sper oly of Hew dle SL Sb Cbs ols ah! pcr! Abe OLEb 5 7 be SSID 5 hee dee LS red ob ES SI Unt ile, Calpe AS apt ge CEL Sine 5 ae St Ae BLE 5g HTS GL oe, or et ogy

Lb 395 sassy GieeT WS aS Col pee dar or yl ed ory Gals CI » ob Spo jas! wale pole Gert & Lol co Ghat,

OLT gyre 4 cijler Cte glacl aS 29.6

(Sg es OL pls ope SY SLI! arale bls gel jl acti cel aeel> 59 09S Seb See Sr orl H lS 2 oly SN is de dele GGL , Gy» L bLsI Sal 5 celcel ey dsj gr S eS Cee Spe pl Cla Aol! JO caso gs pou

SI glade pe 52 5 cel ae Gage BLT 52 LLY jan 9 AS 9 Sith ope GS ah 1b Qe the hy or Son SUS cole ee GU heey Mab tral obs IST cl asthe» sip alee b Sle pl SI 5 Sey

Gre ghee gold cll oy b= 2ty eds Gar St or 5 wl wl Sb Je gy ee rat od bl yb wale S oy whe Ghat Gb I le be ler tho HS whl pty ah eal Joe we pie Ls 8k wl Gho sul 5 gol ASS oye stig OlLwige

ey Le OE Lab Jobs OLS et wags LS AS LU GLI I SS HI)» GE 6 til Le oS Fo Ny CEES y alps AK, coal 250 al, it June he hays Lelal gil ply nate igs HU ale BAB yo WL ole Gre UI» Ly tS yo tj 2998 spre hol Ghal jl we

ol S pleas and jl nll & ab ey AG Cle gel lee Cy as} 2 SS tape opel sl Sle SY SEI 53,5 ple volel toes Gales 32 gabde cht! ons o> sil Cb! 6 Sle 5 ale poke ah oat G5! ole pl 32 EG Lol jl SLY she seh clans Ob YT 3b, wb, ey CLS! y SLI! 52 SS AS LL ks HK SF wher S OE Wyte Cu Soo ce cae gr sella adsl oy Slade ons sly see jae SoS eye jt Gla 5) ae AS slong py opt eat Gabe aye fy Gilsbee Gigs cal appt SUS 5s aS aS SN osliced SoBe scar gh oF apt oo ashy! we Jee shy cal pti glean abel 2 tay oul She p33 ape Abe Gey Leb ol 5 SS > AS jl te GELS one LI ght gold D> yt gt te web, bol C5 GI cs be Slee po ye 59 ye? ty gure Soo claws AS cl eel opt pe th! Ss obj 2 eS eon Gey 3s poke ol tind Oli BS a UT Te Alb oS oles els v5

PY 45 at ASG aslorsjls Lau 5LeT 5» 9 2S dere Gly Gn jl Sly Jbl oI 5) thy pee St oly Geel OL > ed oat WET ak wy JE © Lol sll Se oe tete Bb aly y Jbl Cae Comal Spo IB! oS 2p tet ghey Lol de GS AAG gol Gewese

ob Sho OlKom » Olgo, a6

pbc! Jatt Gy LGyblo 4b dom este sileg, Solow pce &

Yeoh ag VN

Persian Translation of the Letter Dated January 16, 2001 of the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice to All National Spiritual Assemblies

tl pe abl a lbs peel Jalon jypl oF oly tw > hooped yphe Nel ages airy 3d JLy! le slo US biel Jalon VV wel V ply Sty, of Boe © 53 IG guild shee W145 & Ly abe Jobs Slyylee ply gl v2 5 JL I obs, pL By ABE 5b yo gayle Goats glacl & Cle IS yp abe cpke > of eis 5» stl Set ot! gal obs & SUSYb I> (Lael)

Dal pre gall ty tgs, Atl oe GL!

oul

wel Jad! Cw ple toe 5 Slo] Sryglic Cae las © oles 4955 4

yey

Persian Translation of the Message Dated January 9, 2001 of the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of Continental Counselors

tl 5256 Obl Pd 9? AS gushes er Glide IE ey SAS ple Shelyy 4p aS AL AES ayy Qtr Geil 9 AL 2 Ly Anke lite bes 5 At) ppgie G a SB OK age 2 Cy ol ce Gals Jal) Ke oS Sitges te ls,» Se Sapa cel glT Gwe QL Mea yl a 6 pt et Keel St Gl he oil gle 24,5 WD ay Ae pT pe GT pees WL gl spends 5) Sade We pe SES HL 52 295 Ollie 5» ee Wl dle Ope ils Ltt Glo! Gio ve pal bade 5 clas 52 65 1 lt Cry 5 tile So 92 sagt aath Bo 52 col 653) Opt pe PS BLS 95 Jor ee St GEL, tl ~ 4S gy Sylal pe LE Soo Jes 92 45 Col BG ic allele slay Cooly lel) 5 ages ease shajl jo glade UG cate walt LL 2 CLG des > ole le OLS GULLIL Se vk spe ees he ou LG dled Gals WS Gdblus 59 lathes Gly) oS GY tlety Ate Gtl 5 apd opel OLLI Al tel Re Fe Gl hee Ge St 5 ys Sr Gor Sle O34 clots Shh oS! dl

page 38 THe AMERICAN BAnA’i * PERSIAN

April 28, 2001 [Page 39]

The historic moment is approaching. From May 21-25, festivities are planned to inaugurate the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab and open that renowned garden spot ‘on the slopes of Mount Carmel. Some 4,500 people, 3,300 of them Baha’is from more than 200 countries and territories, will witness the public opening of the Terraces, a 10-year construction project that transformed the ancient barren face of the mountain into 19 majestic terraced gardens—an event understood by Peete peace cece ean nce cous, cavelopmients for the Faith and for world history.

THE MOUNT CARMEL TERRACES OFFICIAL OPENING

Get the latest information on the Web!

+ News releases

• The music: Composers and

performers

• Background on the Shrine of the

Bab, the Terraces and gardens . Updates on a planned TY satellite feed

KING DAY, continuen From pace 3

county, people in retirement communities often live separate from working families.

Ata gathering in the park after the march, hundreds of people heard ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Prayer for America read in English and Spanish.

Information from Elaine Milliken

College Park, MD

A “Unity in the Community” award was presented for the first time as the Baha’is of College Park co-sponsored for the 10th year a King Day tribute.

Baha’fs were involved in all aspects of the Jan. 13 celebration at the National Archives, including planning and program content.

College Park officials presided and attendance far exceeded the 350-seat capacity of the auditorium.

Many local youth groups performed, including the DC Baha’i Youth Workshop. The Washington Metropolitan

Baha’i Chorale provided a magnificent finale, singing “We

tion andl the Baha'is of College Park. In recent years it ed the support of the city of College Park, the sity of Maryland and the National Archives.

Information from Susan Rishworth

Newcastle, WA tion in a King Day celebration in thi as Roc by the ena Neweastle Noe s

Baha’i partici Sets eet

Ss of eel public “meditation” and “international dinner” me More than 100 marchers je ned the g candlelight march and vigil begi

A highlight of the event was the display of a quilt onto which had been sewn quotes or facts about Dr. King’s life that had been memorized by the participating children.

“After several years of placing announcements in the newspaper,” wrote Linda Carpine of the Spiritual Assembly of Newcastle, “the Baha’f community is finally being noticed.”

Springfield, OR

‘The Midvalley Baha’{ Youth Workshop of Portland traveled to Springfield for that city’s third annual King Day celebration. This is the second year the workshop has been invited by local hosts to perform at their city observance.

The event included storytellers and two area Christian performance groups, as well as awards for students who had participated in the school district’s essay and art contests honoring Dr. King.

More than 300 audience members watched as the workshop opened the celebration and performed several dances throughout the event.

“The Baha'i Youth Workshop was definitely the hit of the

A member of the American Indian dance group Red Road Crossing performs at the!2th annual Birthday Celebration honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Baha’is in several Albuquerque-area comunities have for years been involved in planning and carrying out King Day activities. Photo by Michael Frank celebration,” said local Baha’f Lisle (Wei) Veach. “Their racism dance was really moving.”

des bringing their usual enthusiasm and energy to the performance, the workshop members stayed to help the organizers clean up after the event.

The Springfield News promoted this year’s MLK Day celebration with two articles, one of which featured photos of the Baha'i Youth Workshop taken at the previous year’s observance.

Florence, OR

In this coastal city, Baha’fs sent invitations to 18 area churches and synagogues and placed an article in the local newspaper inviting people to the public library for an open-mike presentation.

The event was designed to inspire participants to share stories and music in remembrance of Dr. King’s celebration of diversity.

Nine people attended the Florence observance, which may have been the first ever held in this city of 6,700.

Participants told stories of their encounters with prejudice and discussed the absence of dialogue about race unity in Florence. @

GENERATIONS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

their younger brothers and sisters. Youth, the task force members said, will

see other youth expressing themselves in

many cultures and languages, but speak ing the common language of love for

Baha’u'lldh and service to humanity. Though programs were not final at

this printing, the sessions will address:

• Developing your own Baha'i identity

and your place in the community.

• Creating a sense of ownership of the

Faith.

¢ Learning to develop a voice in your community to effect change and advance social justice.

• Acquiring qualities to fight spiritual

battles.

Children

Have we mentioned yet that there’s no fee for registering children and junior youth, ages 14 and under?

“Because this is a family conference, children and junior youth have been taken into account in every aspect of the program,” said Joannie Yuille, a co-coordinator of the sessions and activities for those ages.

That commitment will show from the very moment of registration, Yuille said. Near the check-in area, “we have a family room that will be functional from the beginning. It will have activities for families and for children of all ages,” she said.

‘Those activities may be as structured as _professional-level storytelling hours and organized family projects, or as ins providing a place to reading or et games.

Other child-friendly spaces will be

k around the conferhere will even be a refuge in ilwaukee Arena building where the youngest children can fidget freely while their parents can continue to follow the plenary programs.

‘The education component for children and junior youth is designed and coordinated by the National Education ‘Task Force, Yuille said.

Junior youth

Junior youth will have great opportunities to meet their peers from across the country, and in mentoring sessions they will get in touch with the greater wisdom of older youth.

Active learning is the order of the day, said co-coordinator Ruhiyyih Yuille: “everything from arts and music to drama and movement and story telling to project-based learning in a very creative way.”

And kids from families outside the Baha’i community are kept in mind. While the sessions are geared to include them, “when they leave, they'll understand a little bit about what it is to be a Baha’s.”

Red Grammer, an award-winning musician, will be one of an array of performers helping to keep the spirit high. @

April 28, 2001 |

Te, ACA Bana, COnTraRD

page 39 [Page 40]

3387; fax 831-423-7564; e-mail

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly _ phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail or its agencies at the Baha’f National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. Numbers and e-mail addresses for the permanent Baha’f schools and institutes are: Bosch Baha’f School, phone 831-423 . Green Acre Baha’i School,

fax 843-558-9136; e-mail

Baha’f School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail - Louis G. Gregory Baha’ Institute, phone 843-558-5093;

phone 520-587-7599; fax 520-521-1063; e-mail :¢

- Louhelen

. Native American Baha’f dare

page 10-14: Conteencs on AIDS, Sexuality, Addiction and Abuse at Louhelen. 11-13: Two programs at Bosch: Core/Curriculum training for children’s and youth teachers (continues June 1-3); Assembly Development Modules. 11-13: Parent Child Weekend: “Raising Biracial Children” and “Persian Language Training” at Louhelen. 18-20: ‘Irfan Colloquium and Seminar at Bosch (English and Persian). 18-20: Baha’i Justice Society 15th annual conference, Baha'i National Center, Evanston, IL. Need not be a BJS member or a Baha’ to participate; see Web site for details (www.bahaijustice.org). 18-20: “Reaching Christian Hearts with Baha’u’llih’s Good News” at Green Acre. 25-27: “Managing with the Wisdom of Love” at Louhelen. 25-27: Two programs at Bosch: “Bahd’i Marriage and Family Life”; “Young at Heart.” 25-27: Latin American Weekend at Green Acre. 25-27: Conference of Nur, Elizabethtown, PA; “Consecration, Love of God and. Teachiag.” Registrar: Mark Dunmire (phone , e-mail

); see conference Web site (www.conferenceofnur.org). All participants must preregister by May 1. 25-28: Utah Baha’i School near Zion National Park, UT. See page 26. 25-28: Georgia Baha’{ School, Hampton, GA. See page 26.

SPUR MMRGe Ti. kau fl

BAHA'I NATIONAL CENTER 112 LINDEN AVE WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849

3: 4th sl Rally For Race Unity, State Capitol, Springfield, IL. Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Springfield. Gather by 12:30 p.m. in the Capitol Visitor's Center parking lot and march together to the Capitol building. Contact: phone

8-10: “From Race Amity Conferences to Race Unity, Dialogues” at Green Acre.

8-10: Southeast Asian Roundtable Conference at Bosch.

14-16: Four Winds Unity Gathering, Menoken 4-H

Campground, Bismarck, ND. Sponsored by Spiritual

Assembly of Minot, ND. For directions, camping/motel availability and other information, contact Vern or Mary Longie (phone , e-mail ).

15-17: Hemlock Haven Baha’{ School, Marion, VA. See page 26.

16-21: Persian session on the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf at Bosch.

17-21: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute I at Louhelen.

21-24: Southern California Baha’{ School, Yucaipa, CA. See page 26.

22-27: Junior Youth Academy for ages 11-14 at Green Acre.

23-27: Family Session 2 (Persian/American) at Bosch.

23-27: Camp Louhelen Children’s Institute II at Louhelen.

«d unnecessary delays in receiving The American Babd’t, send all fa label co: Membership Office, Baha'i National Center, 123. Post Office box, your residence address (B) must be filled in. Please allow three weeks for processalso updates the National Center’ database.)

29-July 4: “Consecration, Love of God and Teaching” at Green Acre.

30-July 3: Sheltering Branch Baha’{ School, southwest of Pomeroy, WA. See page 27.

ey 26.

13-18: Friends and Families I at Louhelen. 16-20: Marian Steffes Baha'i School, Brownsville, WI. See page 26.

19-22: Great Plains Baha’i School, Peru, NE. See page 26.

20-22: Iowa Baha’i School, Newton, IA. See page 26. 20-25: “Choral Music and Community Growth” at Louhelen.

21-25: Two programs at Green Acre: Camp Green Acre for ages 8-12; “Building a Divine Civilization Through the Arts.”

ly members’ names, new address and vanston, IL 60201-1611. If

A. NAME(S)

De 2: Ibe 3.

SEMEL, 4 oe

De

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS

C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS

Street Address

Street Address

Apartment # (if applicable)

Apartment # (if applicable)

APRIL Bee 4, 2001 Giry City D. NEW COMMUNITY E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER Name of new Bahs’i Community Moving Date Area Code Phone Number Name F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S) Area Code Phone Number Name ‘Area Code Phone Number Name

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.

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:

H. 1 WOULD LIKE A COPY

‘The last names and addresses oO Our houschold receives only

‘on our add one copy of The American match. We have #1 wish to receive my own full names of fam copy. I have listed my name, ID they should appea number and address above.

records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

THe AMERICAN BanA‘i