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[Page 1]NOVEMBER 4, 2001 QUDRAT/POWER QAWL/SPEECH BAHÁ’Í ERA 158

VOLUME 32, NO. 9

Toward a long-term vision

Universal House of Justice members give reminders of destiny, responsibility

Douglas Martin: Speeches in Atlanta, GA

BY TOM MENNILLO

The dates were long-planned, but it was providential that Universal House of Justice member Douglas Martin was able to assure American Bahá’ís reeling from the Sept. 11 attacks of their country’s—and community’s—destiny.

Accompanied by National Spiritual Assembly member William Roberts, Martin devoted his vacation time to a tour that started in New York City and continued on to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, before winding up in Atlanta, Georgia.

The House of Justice member said it has been a great blessing to him to experience firsthand the “love and warmth, confidence and enthusiasm” of American Bahá’ís.

His presence here also has been a great benefit to the Supreme Body at a time it fervently wishes to reach out to our community, Martin said in expressing “how much the Universal House of Justice loves you and how close it feels to you.”

A roomful of love

The Atlanta visit took the form of an all-day lovefest in a huge ballroom of the downtown Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Among the standing-room-only crowd were Counselor Marilyn Smith; Auxiliary Board members Mary K. Radpour, Danita Brown and Riaz Khadem; and members of the Southern Regional Bahá’í Council.

Bahá’ís traveled in the wee hours to Georgia from Tennessee, Alabama,

SEE DOUGLAS MARTIN, PAGE 8

Ian Semple: Speeches in Seattle, WA; Wilmette, IL

Planning and a systematic approach are indispensable allies as we make efforts to build a spiritual civilization, Universal House of Justice member Ian Semple reminded the 1,000 people attending the Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies-North America, over Labor Day weekend in Seattle, Washington.

In the long run, Semple said, a methodical process of planning complemented by focused action is “far more productive than pursuing successive, isolated bright ideas, the immediate effect of which may be striking but can soon die away without enduring benefit to the work as a whole.”

More excerpts from Seattle talk / page 19

But any hope for advancing civilization, he said, rests on Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching that the “supreme cause for creating the world and all that is therein is for man to

SEE IAN SEMPLE, PAGE 8

Musical tribute to Táhirih

Members of a women’s chorus sing a selection from the dramatic musical work Táhirih, composed by Mimi McClellan, during its premiere at the conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, held Labor Day weekend in Seattle, Washington. The conference also featured a number of talks on the value and direction of Bahá’í scholarship; more articles on pages 18–20. Photo by Michael Frank

Bahá’ís in New York, across U.S. respond to tragedies

BY TOM MENNILLO

Amid images of devastation and of war, it hits home as never before that we must build a Bahá’í community that is at once a refuge in troubling times and the seedling of a Kingdom free of such pain.

We can take a cue from the Bahá’ís in battered New York City. Friends in the City of the Covenant have moved forward resolutely since Sept. 11 on many fronts, according to Assembly secretary Jan Mauras.

In service to the wider community:

• The Bahá’í Center is open every night for prayers.
• The Spiritual Assembly donated $500 to relief efforts and is providing a channel for individual Bahá’ís to contribute (send checks, earmarked for NYC Relief, to the New York City Bahá’í Fund, 53 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003).
• New York Bahá’ís have participated in several interfaith events, while recognizing a need to increase such contacts and efforts in the future.
• A special ongoing effort is being made to reach out to the Muslim community.
• In an individual initiative called “Healing Sundays,” art therapist Razi Searles and other Bahá’ís go to Union

SEE RESPONSE, PAGE 4

INSIDE

• VIRTUES EDUCATION PAGE 11
• WELCOMING REFUGEES PAGE 22
• TREASURER’S PAGE • 7
• YOUTH • 16
• KID’S CORNER • 17
• CLASSIFIED • 26–27
• IN MEMORIAM • 28–29
• PERSIAN PAGES • 31–34

BUILDING THE KINGDOM
	Goal: $60 million
Participants: more than 7,000	Money committed: $24.3 million See page 6

THE NATIONAL FUND

Received by the National Treasurer

$1,179,123 received, August 2001

$1,458,935 received, September 2001

6,027 individual contributors, August 2001

6,169 individual contributors, September 2001

Excluding Kingdom Project See page 7 for details

E·X·C·E·R·P·T·S

“Happy are they who in the days of world-encompassing trials have stood fast in the Cause and refused to swerve from its truth.”

—Bahá’u’lláh [Page 2]

Chief tellers’ addresses for Regional Council elections

Regional Bahá’í Councils will be elected Nov. 26, 2001, according to guidance from the Universal House of Justice:

“In view of the experience gained over a period of several years, the Universal House of Justice has recognized that it would be more practical to set a new date for the formation of these institutions. Henceforth, then, the election or appointment of Regional Councils will take effect every year on 26 November, the Day of the Covenant.” — Letter from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, dated March 13, 2000

The four Regional Bahá’í Councils in the United States have been working diligently to advance the process of entry by troops and achieve the goals of the Five Year Plan.

At this special time, believers throughout the country are encouraged to pray for the upcoming election for this special institution as members of Local Spiritual Assemblies gather to cast their ballots.

Last year after the Regional Bahá’í Council elections, the National Spiritual Assembly learned that it was helpful to Local Spiritual Assemblies to have contact information for each region’s chief teller published in The American Bahá’í to assist in facilitation of work during the election. We are pleased to provide the mailing addresses for the chief teller in each region.

CENTRAL REGION	SOUTHERN REGION
P.O. Box 21545 Saint Louis, MO 63132-0545	P.O. Box 111299 Nashville, TN 37222-1299
NORTHEASTERN REGION	WESTERN REGION
P.O. Box 1528 Springfield, MA 01101-1528	P.O. Box 1780 Santa Monica, CA 90402-1780

ALMANAC

Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

A Bahá’í Holy Day • Observed between sundown Nov. 11 and sundown Nov. 12 • Work is to be suspended

Mírzá Husayn-’Alí, Bahá’u’lláh, was born in Tehran, Persia, on Nov. 12, 1817. His birth signaled the dawning of the Day of God on earth and the appearance of the Greatest Name of God. “We should feel deeply gratified and thankful to God that at a time when all humanity seems to be struggling in despair we can come together and, with great assurance, feast and be merry over the dawn of a new day; that in the darkness which envelops the world we see the approach of a new light and the breaking of a new era.” (Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance Vol.1, p. 45)

Day of the Covenant

A Bahá’í Holy Day • Observed between sundown Nov. 25 and sundown Nov. 26 • Work is not suspended

“ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told the Bahá’ís that ... [May 23] was not, under any circumstances, to be celebrated as His day of birth. It was the day of the Declaration of the Báb, exclusively associated with Him. But as the Bahá’ís begged for a day to be celebrated as His, He gave them November 26th, to be observed as the day of the appointment of the Centre of the Covenant.” —H.M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 523

Anniversary of Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

A Bahá’í Holy Day • Observed Nov. 28 at 1:00 a.m. • Work is not suspended

“It is clear how that most dire of calamities, that most great disaster which was the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, may our souls be sacrificed for His meekness, has set our hearts on fire and dissolved our very limbs and members in grief. ... No more does the ardent nightingale carol its joyous songs, and the sweet and holy melodies of the immortal dove are hushed.” —Shoghi Effendi, ‎Bábíyyih Khánum Bahíyyih Khánum‎, pp. 148–149

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

William E. Davis, a Bahá’í in Half Moon Bay, California, and member of the National Spiritual Assembly, was one of four 2001 inductees into the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame. This honor is awarded to selected alumni who have “reached and remained at the pinnacle of his or her field ... perseverance and maturation and/or ... a profound positive influence on the College of Law.” This year’s inductees also include a Kentucky state Supreme Court justice.

A sweeping list of Davis’ accomplishments that led to that honor include: • His Peace Corps service in Chile in the mid-1960s, which included organizing rural production cooperatives among Mapuche Indians and organizing and equipping a dental clinic. • Efforts as staff attorney for the California state Administrative Office of the Courts to ease the burden of courtroom appearances by citizens. • Serving as the first director of the Kentucky state Administrative Office of the Courts, in charge of organizing a new constitutionally created multilevel court system involving more than 200 judges and 2,000 support personnel. • Working as chief administrative officer for federal courts in the Ninth Circuit, and later as director of the California Administrative Office of the Courts. • Helping form a private legal consulting firm that has been involved in significant court reform around the world, including Central America, South America, the Near East and Eastern Europe.

Dwight Donaldson, a Bahá’í in Tacoma, Washington, was honored last spring as Outstanding Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Pierce County. The award, given by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, was given based on football performance as well as Dwight’s 3.99 cumulative grade point average.

Tami Haaland, a Bahá’í in Billings, Montana, was this year’s recipient of the Nicholas Roerich Prize, one of the most prestigious honors in American poetry, for her book Breath in Every Room. In conjunction, Haaland, an assistant professor of creative writing at Montana State University-Billings, is to read her poetry at the Nicholas Roerich Museum, which is devoted to promoting peace through artistic and cultural exchange.

Sandra Hicks, a Bahá’í in Manchester, New Hampshire, has been presented the Good Samaritan Award for Medicine and Healing, in recognition of “compassion, courage and commitment” in her field. Pastoral Counseling Services, sponsors of the award, annually honors a local individual in each of six segments of the community for service to others.

Abbas Earl Mahvash, a Bahá’í from Houston, Texas, graduated as salutatorian, second in his class, from Memorial High School. A number of other awards he has garnered include the National Merit Scholarship, the school’s Most Outstanding Boy award, and a number of scholarships for outstanding academic work and community service.

Yuji Tsuzuki, 13, of Bloomingdale, Illinois, recently was ranked No. 1 in North America for seventh-graders involved in the Kumon Math system. He has been in the Kumon Math “Top 20” for three years. ◆

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

Bahá’í National Center 847-869-9039

Editorial Office of The American Bahá’í Mail: 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 Phone: 847-425-7963 Fax: 847-425-7969

Editor James Humphrey

Associate Editor Tom Mennillo

Facilities Manager, Bahá’í Media Services Artis Mebane

Contributors Kathleen Babb, Jean Brooks, Sam Conrad, Randolph Dobbs, Liz Donaldson, Jesse Fish, Michael Frank, Judith Griffin, Barb Hancock, Wendy Heller, Howard Hinterthuer, Carole Hitti, Rebecca Motlagh, Ellen Parmelee, Al Prosser, Mojan Sami, Sirous Setareh, Siggle S. Shaw III, Vladimir Shilov, Roberta Solomon, Ramin Talaie, Gayle Hoover Thorne, Russ Vestie

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

ADDRESS CHANGES

If you have an address change, or wish to stop or consolidate mailings, contact the Membership Office, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. There is no need to contact the Editors directly. A form is on the back page.

SUBMITTING ARTICLES AND PHOTOS

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í welcomes news, letters or other items of interest from individuals and institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. • ARTICLES should be clear, concise and relevant to the goals of the worldwide and national teaching plans. We may edit stories for length and style. We cannot print advance articles to publicize locally sponsored events, but may be able to list them in the Calendar. • PHOTOGRAPHS may be color or black-and-white prints. Please submit photos that are well-composed and in focus, and identify people in photos when possible. If you wish photos returned, include a self-addressed envelope (you do not need to supply postage). • DEADLINES for upcoming issues: Jan. 19, 2002 issue: Deadline Dec. 4 Feb. 26, 2002 issue: Deadline Jan. 15

PLEASE ADDRESS ALL ITEMS FOR possible publication to The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

©2001 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. [Page 3]

Enrollments

September 2001	92
May–September 2001	559

New online center for learning

www.kingdomconference.org delivers knowledge from workshops

If you were at the Building the Kingdom Conference last summer, and attended every workshop you possibly could, you would only have been able to go to eight out of more than 200 workshops. That’s less than 4 percent, the mathematicians would say.

Just think of all that knowledge on community-building, teaching the Faith, spiritual development, race unity, gender equity, business, social and economic issues—there and gone, if you happened not to be at all the right places in Milwaukee June 28-July 1. Unreachable. Inaccessible.

Until now. With the help of the Internet and the Kingdom Conference Web site (www.kingdomconference.org), our Bahá’í National Center has stretched the boundaries of the Kingdom Conference through time and space and created the beginnings of a nationwide and even worldwide learning community.

Visitors to that evolving site will find:

• Handouts from a growing number of the conference’s workshops—about 50 at press time.
• E-mail and Web links to the presenters who shared their wealth of knowledge.
• Audio and video files of main stage sessions.
• Reports by American Bahá’í reporters on a number of the workshops.

Staff in the National Center’s Information Services department are collecting these materials and posting them in batches, and expect to do so until every workshop presenter and Expo exhibitor who wants to, has their information online.

This is a first step toward creation of a family of online learning and community resources under consideration by the National Spiritual Assembly. An interdepartmental team at the National Center started work in July to look into these issues and consult with Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í experts on a full range of technical and developmental possibilities.

Early recommendations have been submitted to the National Assembly for its consultation. “Gradual evolution, instead of just a single Web site, is important to plan for,” said one non-Bahá’í expert. “A document repository or clearinghouse can be useful, because the Bahá’ís have a lot of creative individuals and a whole group of local institutions that are learning things and innovating all the time, and that information should be shared so it won’t get lost.

“The real value comes in, though, when the documents you post become the start of a dialogue between the authors and everyone who’s interested in the topic,” the expert added. ♦

Redesigned ID card makes debut

The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to announce the availability of a new plastic membership card featuring a full-color aerial photo of the Bahá’í House of Worship. Designed to be a permanent identification card, it does not carry an expiration date. It does carry a bar code that can be used to register at national events.

The new card continues to be free of charge to new believers, those transferring into the American Bahá’í community, children turning 15 years of age, and people with official name changes.

The previously issued blue laminated Bahá’í identification card remains valid. A small service charge, to cover production and postage costs, will be applied to all requests for replacement cards.

If you would like to request a replacement card, send your name, Bahá’í ID number and a check for $5 payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund” (no cash please) to: Membership Office, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Please indicate that the payment is for the new card. ♦

HUQÚQU’LLÁH THE RIGHT OF GOD

Obligation on debts

Frequently asked question: We are told that the Right of God is to be paid after the payment of our debts. Does that mean that we pay no Huqúqu’lláh until after we pay off our long-term loans, such as real estate mortgages, or medium- and short-term debts, such as car loans?

Answer: In all such cases only the annual cost of servicing those loans, i.e. the interest and the part of the principal paid each year, should be deducted when calculating your Huqúqu’lláh obligation.

Helpful Hint: Please include a note when your address has changed.

Huqúqu’lláh Web site

• Codification of the Law
• Compilation of writings on Huqúqu’lláh
• Practical guidelines
• History of the institution
• Prayers
• Online videos
• Directory of Huqúqu’lláh Representatives across the U.S.
• Articles for study

Access www.usbnc.org with your Bahá’í ID number, then click on “Huqúqu’lláh” link

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

• Amin Banani, fax 310-394-6167
• Stephen Birkland, fax 651-490-7521
• Sally Foo, fax 609-671-0740
• Daryush Haghighi, fax 440-333-6938
• Elizabeth Martin, P.O. Box 178, Winnsboro, SC 29180, fax 803-635-9982
• Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust, fax 440-333-6938

93rd Bahá’í National Convention • April 25–28, 2002

Foundation Hall, Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois

The National Spiritual Assembly eagerly anticipates greeting delegates, members of the Continental Board of Counselors, and their Auxiliaries, members of the Regional Bahá’í Councils and a small number of visitors as we mark the close of the first year of the Five Year Plan.

The 93rd Bahá’í National Convention will open Thursday evening, April 25, and close midday Sunday, April 28.

All elected delegates will have reserved seats in Foundation Hall throughout the Convention.

Visitors, including family members of delegates, MUST apply for pre-registration with this form by U.S. mail or fax.

Due to limited seating space, only registrants using this form—faxed or postmarked between Nov. 26, 2001, and March 1, 2002—will be admitted to the Bahá’í House of Worship Visitors Center during the Convention. Seating will be assigned on a first-applied, first-served basis.

Bahá’í ID number	Last Name	First Name	M.I.
Mailing Address
City	State	ZIP Code	Home phone ( )

Hotel reservations: This form is for confirmation of attendance only.

All participants including delegates must make their own lodging arrangements. Participants may take advantage of a special rate at the Omni Orrington Hotel (phone 847-866-8700). When making hotel reservations, ask for the Bahá’í National Convention contract rate (double occupancy = $109).

Please check if you will need:

• Wheelchair accessibility
• Sign language interpretation (provided only on request by mail postmarked no later than March 1, 2002)

Please complete this form and mail to: Conventions Office, 415 Linden Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091 or fax to: 847-425-7975

No phone or e-mail registrations will be accepted [Page 4]More than 200 Bahá’í communities and individuals have informed The American Bahá’í of sterling examples of quick response, selfless service and community involvement in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies that hit New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. At press time the stories are continuing to trickle in, and more may well be printed in the Dec. 12 issue. We thank everyone who has helped us report on the U.S. Bahá’í community’s loving spirit in this way.

RESPONSE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE I

Square, a major gathering place for people who have lost loved ones, and distribute invitations to a prayer gathering at the nearby Bahá’í Center. At the gathering, participants are invited to share their feelings about the recent events. Following a break for refreshments and fellowship, those interested are invited to a fireside where the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh is shared. For details, contact Searles (e-mail ).

• The Children’s Theatre Company performed Sept. 20 at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in association with the relief organization NetAid. CTC’s program had been developed for the UN Special Session on Children, but that session was postponed until further notice after the Sept. 11 attacks.

• Also intended to coincide with the Special Session was the UN’s fifth annual Interfaith Service of Commitment to the Work of the United Nations. The service went on as scheduled Sept. 13, but was dedicated to all those lost in the tragedy and their loved ones. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the president of the General Assembly, the executive director of UNICEF and more than 40 religious leaders joined 900 members of the UN community at St. Bartholomew’s Church. Jeffery Huffines, the National Spiritual Assembly’s UN representative, offered a welcome as president of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN and concluded with the excerpt from the Bahá’í writings that the National Spiritual Assembly had quoted in its message to the American Bahá’í community on Sept. 11.

• The work of all national and international Bahá’í offices in New York City resumed two days after the United Nations area was evacuated because of safety concerns. Housed in a building next door to the UN are the Bahá’í International Community, the National Assembly’s UN representative and the Office of Public Information. The offices’ main telephone number remained out of service two weeks after the attacks, but an alternate number was being used and e-mail capability was restored.

Growth and development

Within the Bahá’í community:

• Communication between the Local Assembly and the friends has been restored, including a letter from the Assembly and an issue of the City of the Covenant newsletter devoted to the community’s response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

• The Assembly hosted Universal House of Justice member Douglas Martin. His talks Sept. 22 at Columbia University on “Century of Light” and “Taking Yes for an Answer,” arranged by the Regional Bahá’í Council and Counselor Rebequa Murphy, helped area friends understand their role in this day and the urgent importance of teaching.

• Groundwork is being laid for a systematic growth project in metro New York. The decision to proceed was made after the Assembly consulted on Sept. 15 with the Regional Council, the regional training institute board and Auxiliary Board members. Murphy and National Teaching Committee representatives were to have taken part as well but could not make travel arrangements in the wake of the national tragedy.

• A 20-year vision has been formulated for community development at the neighborhood level. Realizing that no model exists for clustering in a community like New York, with its five far-flung boroughs, the Assembly analyzed the number of Bahá’ís and seekers and the level of activity in each ZIP code and identified a couple of “hot spots” for initial efforts. Study circles are being encouraged as an engine for growth, with the goal of achieving in each area a critical mass of Bahá’ís that can sustain a high quality of community life.

Mauras said the New York City community cannot begin to express its appreciation for the hundreds of e-mail messages, letters and phone calls of concern and support received from around the nation and the world.

The terrible events of Sept. 11 have made metro friends more keenly aware, she said, of the need to provide solace and hope through the message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Taking the lead

Friends throughout the United States are taking on that privilege and responsibility as well.

To that end, they’re finding that previous work is paying off.

“Because of the efforts of so many Bahá’ís who nurtured relationships with leaders of thought over the last 20 years, we received a phone call from a campus minister who was planning an on-campus prayer service for the National Day of Mourning,” reports Kathy Liebman of St. Louis, Missouri.

“Although there are no Bahá’ís attending his college at this time, he insisted that the Bahá’ís be represented and particularly asked that we send someone who could chant or sing,” said Liebman.

The Bahá’ís had already planned a service for the same time and were having difficulty finding someone to attend the college service.

No problem, according to Liebman. “I cannot tell you how my heart was warmed when this dear Presbyterian minister asked me to e-mail him Bahá’í prayers and writings and joyfully said, ‘If no Bahá’í shows up, I will be the Bahá’í!’”

In Huntsville, Alabama, because of Bahá’í membership on the local board of the National Conference of Community and Justice and the local Interfaith Mission Service, the Faith was represented in a Sept. 16 community-wide service attended by 1,200 people.

The program included Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Bahá’í prayers, and a Catholic priest made a point of explaining that the Faith was included as part of the spiritual makeup of Huntsville and the world.

“Clearly the collaborative work by the friends with interfaith organizations and visibly promoting unity over the years had paved the way for the Writings and name of Bahá’u’lláh to bless this unique congregation,” reports Tim Tyson, Bahá’í representative on the local NCCJ board.

“The dominant theme of the speakers, in their own words, was that there is only one God, His religion is one in nature, and we are all bound by our unity in diversity.”

Helen Oney was asked to chant a Bahá’í prayer, and Tyson read the Prayer for America at the request of the NCCJ board.

Across the nation

Similar opportunities were reported by friends in many localities.

Jackie Eghrari-Sabet in McLean, Virginia, a few miles from the Pentagon, invited friends and neighbors to her local fire station for prayers.

“The idea was to be of service to my community and provide a place where all people would feel welcome,” said Eghrari-Sabet, who reports that more than 100 people came, including Zoroastrians and Hindus.

Bahá’ís in Dayton, Ohio, joined with more than 50 other religious leaders to draft a joint statement in response to the national tragedy, reports Kristin Aileen Motlagh.

She said Bahá’ís participated in several local events, including a prayer meeting at the Islamic School in suburban Beavercreek and a prayer walk in downtown Dayton.

A Bahá’í-sponsored public prayer service at Rider University in Lawrence, New Jersey, drew Mayor Pam Mount, who spoke, and about 100 people from many countries and faiths.

In writing about the gathering, Mercer Times reporter Joseph Dee said the chapel “was often quiet enough to hear such sounds of nature as the chirping of crickets and the occasional quack from a”

Above: The National Day of Mourning was observed Sept. 15 at the New York City Bahá’í Center, in a quiet service that welcomed the public. Photo by Ramin Talaie

Left: Participants gather after a special Sept. 15 prayer service at the Bahá’í House of Worship, which drew nearly 600 people at midday. Photo by Vladimir Shilov [Page 5]

Message of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, Sept. 14, 2001

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The Universal House of Justice has read with warm sympathy the text of your message to the American Bahá’í community in the wake of the tragedy that has struck your country. You may rest assured that prayers are being offered in the Holy Shrines on behalf of the American people.

With loving Bahá’í greetings, Department of the Secretariat

More messages of love and encouragement from national Bahá’í communities around the world are available on: www.usbnc.org

The UN Secretary-General and the president of the UN General Assembly joined more than 40 religious leaders in the fifth annual Interfaith Service of Commitment to the Work of the United Nations, Sept. 13 at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York. Jeffery Huffines, UN representative for our National Spiritual Assembly, welcomed some 900 members of the UN community in his capacity as president of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN. The service was dedicated to all who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack.

duck in a nearby pond.”

“I felt very uplifted. It was so beautiful,” harpist Anisa Nizin told Dee. Nizin traveled from Ridgewood to perform at the service.

Wesley Dyring, a violist with the Seattle Symphony and a resident of Lynnwood, Washington, was part of ‎a an‎ honor guard participating in a service organized by Gov. Gary Locke and attended by 30,000 people.

The next day he visited a mosque that had been defaced with black paint.

“When we arrived, there was a non-Muslim neighbor who was meticulously scraping the paint from the sign, and there were flowers placed all around it by well-wishers,” he reports. “We greeted three young men on their grounds. I told them that we were from the Lynnwood Bahá’í community and that we wished to express our support. I explained how important it is for us to teach and demonstrate the elimination of bigotry and prejudice.”

The regularly scheduled devotional evening at the home of Dan and Andi Seals in Hendersonville, Tennessee, was dedicated to “those many souls who are enduring the suffering caused by the horrendous tragedies.”

The Seals family knows that suffering firsthand. Their son-in-law, Giachery Lizarraga, was working in the World Trade Center when the hijacked airliners hit the towers.

“His wife, Holly, watched in horrified disbelief as the TV news reported the devastation as it occurred,” reports Andi Seals. “Instantly she tried to contact him to no avail. Minute by excruciating minute she waited to receive news of his safety. Then whatever updates he could send about his harrowing journey towards home.

“For what seemed like endless hours his family in Tennessee waited to hear his voice stating he was safe. Finally, thank God, his call came. All the prayers for protection led us to this moment of relief that cannot be adequately expressed in words. We have, each and all, said a multitude of gratitude prayers that he was spared physical injury.”

Rendering assistance

Mojdeh Rohani is a clinical social worker who normally does therapy with refugees, asylum seekers and victims of torture.

But when the attacks hit, the Boston, Massachusetts, Bahá’í thought of the families of passengers and crew on the two hijacked planes that had taken off from Boston’s Logan International Airport.

She immediately contacted the local American Red Cross office and placed her name on a list of mental health counselors available to aid those people.

“I don’t know,” she said. “You just wish there was something you could do to reduce the pain that has been inflicted on so many hearts. God help us all.”

Kimberley Weldon of Nashville, Indiana, also enlisted to aid those grieving.

“I am certified as part of the Red Cross’s Disaster Mental Health Services Team, and I will be shipping out of Indianapolis … to the disaster site in Pennsylvania, perhaps to be moved to NYC later when the transport clears up,” she e-mailed the day after the tragedy. “I could be gone as long as two weeks. Send your prayers, please.”

Focus on the future

Don Plunkett spent six days beginning Sept. 11 “digging through dirt at ground zero of the World Trade Center. The unity especially with fellow workers is not describable by words alone.”

But beneath the dirt, he found, “if one looks closely enough it becomes apparent that there is more work to be done.”

The Yonkers, New York, Bahá’í and retired NYC police officer described having to break up a bloody fight.

“The fight began with racial slurs that were exchanged between African-American and Anglo-American steelworkers,” he said. “I was left to wonder if we are going to really unite behind this tragedy or just use it to come together on the surface.

“I also wonder if the terrorist attack would have occurred if we were truly united as one people. That is, if we truly viewed our fellow Americans as neighbors as well as our neighbors from other countries as members of one human race, would we have sustained a terrorist attack of this magnitude?”

Candace Hill’s whole attitude toward teaching changed in the week following the attacks.

The Evanston, Illinois, Bahá’í was touched when several people stopped by her family’s table at a candlelight vigil along Ridge Avenue, picked up copies of the Prayer for America and asked, “Did the Bahá’ís plan this event?”

“Every person I meet now will know, without a doubt, that I am a Bahá’í,” she said. “I will never walk out of my home without wearing the Greatest Name upon my person. I am a member of the community of the Greatest Name and with the Words of Bahá’u’lláh I have the key to world peace. Now is the time like never, ever before to show the way, to hold our light aloft.”

In Mount Vernon, Virginia, the nine participants in the Bahá’í community’s monthly “Getaway Retreat” Sept. 15 discussed the terrorist attacks and what they might be able to do as individuals and as a Bahá’í community.

“We felt that it was particularly urgent to re-disseminate The Promise of World Peace, a document more relevant now,” said William P. Collins of Washington, DC.

The Washington Assembly devoted its Sept. 16 Sunday morning program to “Rising Above Violence: How to Cope with, Understand and Respond to What Happened on Tuesday.”

Victoria Jones and Collins led a discussion in which attendees agreed that terrorism is a collective problem and interrelated with many other social, political and economic issues that must be resolved to create lasting peace.

On the Bahá’í Tech e-mail list, participants consulted on how Bahá’ís with technical skills could render assistance at this time.

But underlying the discussion was the recognition of a need to share the Bahá’í perspective with fellow Americans.

“I think it is critical that the Faith as a body and its members become visible and can stand as exemplars,” said list member Charles Cooper of Chicago, Illinois. “We must assist our fellow citizens to fend off irrational feelings that devolve into racially tinged attacks on groups of people in a blind desire for revenge. We must educate our friends so that this country may rise to its spiritual destiny.”

Carol Black, a Bahá’í in West Lafayette, Indiana, is enlisting other friends in an effort to donate a dollar to the Kingdom Project for each of the more than 6,000 victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Let us work together to bring about a true and lasting peace for humanity,” Black wrote in an e-mail message proposing the idea.

“Because of the efforts of so many Bahá’ís who nurtured relationships with leaders of thought over the last 20 years … a campus minister… insisted that the Bahá’ís be represented.” —Kathy Liebman, St. Louis, Missouri, reporting on an interfaith prayer service [Page 6]KINGDOM PROJECT IN ACTION: BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP; GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL

Far left: Foundation work progresses for the new terrace deck on the north and east edges of the House of Worship in Wilmette. Photo by James Humphrey

Left: The steel frame for the new Bahá’í Hall rises from the grounds at Green Acre. Photo by Sam Conrad

Making the Home a sweeter home

BY MOJAN SAMI

In June my friend Jennifer Hall, 24, joined me in service in Wilmette, Illinois: I at the Bahá’í National Center and she at one of the lesser-known components of the Kingdom Project, the Bahá’í Home for the Aged. Jennifer became the first youth in recent years to volunteer full time at the Bahá’í Home, established in 1958 and the first and only dependency of our Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. It is also the only dependency of any House of Worship in the world today.

The Bahá’í Home cares for 20 residents with a full- and part-time staff of 17. Funds pledged or contributed to the Kingdom Project, a comprehensive development plan of the National Spiritual Assembly, will make it possible to renovate and modernize the Home.

In mid-September, Jennifer and I spoke. She told me about happiness, beauty, and building connections—all a big part of her service. Here are some of my questions and her answers:

Mojan: Can you tell me a little about your experience with the residents at the Bahá’í Home?

Jennifer: When I walk in the door every day, I yell, “Good morning, everybody!” and the response from the people in the living room—who are generally sitting quietly and thinking—is of happiness. We have special programs in the mornings and afternoons, and I think the residents really look forward to them. For many of the residents, it’s their point of reference for the passage of time.

What kinds of programs do you have?

Besides talking with the residents, who are so trusting—sharing all the experiences of their lives and struggles, I also do “story hour.” This is a great thing for those who have lost their ability to read. They are so grateful. I didn’t even know I liked to read stories aloud before I got here, but their confidence in me has improved my ability to express myself.

High priorities

Some immediate needs of the Bahá’í Home include:

• Replacing tables and chairs so they are properly weighted; current chairs might slide if a resident holds onto them to stand up.
• Replacing spot lighting with lights that make visual adjustment easier.
• Replacing floor tile in common areas to absorb shock in case a resident falls.
• Replacing furniture, which is at an uncomfortable height for residents.
• Moving the nurse’s station to provide greater room for residents’ relaxation and enjoyment.

What else do you do with the residents?

I do singalongs, which are really amazing. Those who don’t usually communicate very well really love to sing, and they’ll sing every song. These songs may bring back memories and feelings they have forgotten. We also go to the movies and out to dinner. They also really like bowling, so we set it up for them here. They love it and look forward to it. It’s a lot of hard work to arrange the pins and keep score, but we do it because they love it.

I hear that the staff turnover rate at the Home is only about 1 percent, in an industry where turnover rates are generally 50 percent or higher. What makes the staff stay?

It’s no secret what’s so special about this place. Like it says right in the front of the building: “Bahá’í Home.” The spirit of the Faith is in action here. Even though most of the staff members are not Bahá’ís, they are so happy to work here. The residents are happy. There are a lot of people of different ethnicities and religions working together in harmony. I think it’s the kind of home ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would have had. That’s why it’s different. It’s blessed by the spirit of the Faith in action.

How do you think the Bahá’í Home contributes to building the Kingdom of God?

In my experience, it serves as an example of what positive things can be done when you’re serving without a motive to get something in return. It’s not run like a business that tries to make a profit; instead, it’s a model of how a home should be. The Bahá’í Home builds relationships and connects people, which is why I think people stay here. It’s not a job you come and do; it’s an opportunity to connect with people in a non-superficial way. The connections we have here are very deep, as they are in the Kingdom of God, where everyone is united. It’s a way to express that unity here on earth. I feel like I can take that home with me, and into the future. These lessons I have learned I will also build upon in my own home with my family.

How do you and the residents feel about the future renovations?

Since beauty is a virtue; since material progress, as well as spiritual progress, is conducive to human happiness; since we’re at a new epoch and everyone is progressing spiritually (whether they know it or not), our material progress has to express that. The renovations will show physical beauty and be a visual cue to what’s happening here spiritually.

Will the renovations make the residents happy?

I think it will make the residents happier, as well as the people who visit them. And you know, these residents, although their physical forms are fading away—we know there are deep things inside.

KINGDOM PROJECT OVERVIEW

ENSURING MATERIAL MEANS

• More than 7,000 individuals and Bahá’í institutions and agencies have pledged funds toward the $60 million goal, or have made direct cash contributions, or both.
• About $24.3 million in pledges or cash contributions has been committed to the Kingdom Project.

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM PROJECT?

Building the Infrastructure of the Kingdom Louhelen’s Unity Hall is the second project to be completed through the Kingdom Project; the first was renovations to the Louis Gregory Institute.

Other initiatives already under way include the conservation of the House of Worship, a new meeting and classroom building at Green Acre Bahá’í School, renovations to the Bahá’í Home for the Aged, and the introduction of Bahá’í books to the retail book trade.

Future initiatives will include:

• Enhancements to Bosch Bahá’í School and Native American Bahá’í Institute.
• Renovation of the Hazíratu’l-Quds.
• Creation of a new Temple Visitors Center.
• Expansion of the media campaign.
• Establishment of an endowment and strategic reserves.
• Construction of a suitable National Archives facility.

For information about the Kingdom Project and how you can get involved:

KINGDOM PROJECT Office of the Treasurer • 1233 Central St. • Evanston, IL 60201 Phone 847-733-3521 E-mail Web site www.kingdom-project.org [Page 7]“[O]ur contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind, for it is only through the system of Bahá’u’lláh—Divine in origin—that the world can be gotten on its feet and want, fear, hunger, war, etc., be eliminated.” —Shoghi Effendi, published in Bahá’í News, August 1948

THE FUND

Through September 30, 2001

Contributions received by National Treasurer (excluding Kingdom Project)

August	$1,179,123
Sept.	$1,458,935
Total this fiscal year (since May 2001)	$6,394,057

Individual contributors This fiscal year, 8,906 individual Bahá’ís have contributed to the National Fund.

Cash-basis revenues, expenditures for Bahá’í National Fund

May 1–August 31, 2001 (latest available)

Revenues (contributions, book sales, school fees etc.): $6,911,954

Expenditures (operations, capital and debt payments etc.): $9,285,389

Kingdom Project:

• Pledges needed: $60,000,000
• Pledges, contributions so far: $24,300,000

Kids Keeping Track of Goals!

In the Lynn, Massachusetts, Bahá’í community, children record their community’s monthly progress of giving to the Funds on the Fund Goal Chart (a.k.a. “candle chart”). Each child has a copy to personally keep track of their community’s development and growth. Lua Tomarelli-Lu (pictured) is so happy to help her community in this way! (Liang the Lion is happy too!)

Non-cash gifts: Handle with care

Friends often wish to contribute in-kind gifts for the benefit of the Fund, sometimes personal property such as jewelry and oriental rugs. While this can be a great service, those who contribute such gifts should adhere to the following guidelines from the IRS:

• When an item is valued at $500 or more, the donor must complete IRS Form 8283. This form may be obtained at a local bank and/or downloaded from the IRS Web site. We, the charity, must complete Form 8282 if the item is sold within two years from the time we receive it.
• If an item is valued at $5,000 or more, then in addition to completing Form 8283, the donor must make sure the item is appraised, preferably by a certified appraiser.
• We, the charity, cannot assign or indicate a value on the receipt we will issue to you. We can only describe the donated item.
• Generally, when a donated item—such as jewelry or oriental rugs—does not relate to the work of the National Spiritual Assembly or its agencies, the donor may only deduct his or her cost basis, not fair market value. If the donated item relates to the work of the Faith, the donor may deduct fair market value.

Please know that we appreciate the friends’ generosity in any form it takes. Keep in mind, however, that ‎it is sometimes it is it is sometimes‎ difficult for us to sell certain items.

Sacramento-area friends get jazzy with center benefit

BY GAYLE HOOVER THORNE

Milwaukee wasn’t the only “happening” place in the American Bahá’í world the last weekend of June.

Friends in the Sacramento, California, area gathered for an evening of jazz, with proceeds benefiting the Sacramento Regional Bahá’í Center.

Three musicians hailing from the far reaches of the Golden State were on the bill: acoustic guitarist Jamie Findlay from greater Los Angeles, vocalist Wendy McCain from the San Francisco Bay Area, and saxophonist and flutist Roger Hogan from northerly Redding.

They treated a sold-out crowd to a variety of music ranging from old favorites such as “Blackbird,” “Skylark” and “Time After Time” to “The Queen of Carmel” and original pieces composed by the performers: “A Ballad to the Greatest Holy Leaf,” “BeBop BeBop” (in honor of Dizzy Gillespie) and “Thank You, Mr. Sears.”

Coffee and a variety of pastries were served in the patio outside the auditorium. Tables were arranged there so some of the friends could chat in the cool of the evening while enjoying the music through an outdoor loudspeaker.

The evening was such a success that the sponsoring Spiritual Assembly of Sacramento County Northwest is considering making this an annual occurrence, with an ever-‎burgeonic burgeoning‎ audience in mind.

The event grossed $1,850.

Note from the Treasurer’s Office: Fund-raising events such as this can be a unifying and enriching experience. A few precautions must be remembered when Assemblies sponsor events that are openly held as fund-raisers for Bahá’í activities or properties:

• Only Bahá’ís in good standing should pay for tickets or refreshments at such an event.
• Guests of the Bahá’ís should not be put in a position where they might feel they are expected to contribute at such a fund-raiser.

On people’s minds ...

Q How should I prioritize in giving to the various funds? Should one Fund take precedence over the other or am I free to give as I please?

A “The beloved Guardian explained that the general and national interests of the Cause take precedence over the local ones; thus contributions to local funds are secondary to those of national funds. However, the stability of the National Assembly rests on the firmness of the Local Spiritual Assemblies, and in the matter of educating the friends in the importance of the fund, it is often most practical and efficacious to concentrate at first on the development of the local funds and the efficient operation of the Local Spiritual Assemblies. Then once the friends understand the principle ... they will more easily understand the importance of the National Fund and the work of the National Spiritual Assembly.” (From a memorandum of the Universal House of Justice, cited in Lights of Guidance.)

Q How is the Honor Roll determined?

A It recognizes communities with regular patterns of giving. This year, criteria are: contributing to the National Fund 15 times or more during at least 15 of 19 Bahá’í months, or participating in the ACS for at least 10 of 12 Gregorian months between March 2001 and February 2002. Communities whose combined contributions by mail and through the ACS fulfill either criterion are also included.

What’s on your mind? Send your questions on the Fund and its workings to the Office of the Treasurer (e-mail treasurer@usbnc.org).

Contribution Systems and Information

Automatic contribution system ... helps give the Fund stability and simplifies your contributions

Giving in memory or in honor ... of a loved one, a special event, a wedding, birth or graduation

Worksheets for local treasurers ... help keep your community on track and up to date

Find out more or get forms on www.usbnc.org or contact the Office of the Treasurer, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60202; e-mail treasurer@usbnc.org

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

The National Spiritual Assembly’s Gift and Estate Planning Program

has been established to help believers make a variety of financial arrangements for themselves, their families and the Bahá’í Faith.

• Providing for the Bahá’í 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

• Not yet licensed in Arkansas, California, Washington

8-page brochure Single copies may be requested free. Nominal charge for ordering in quantity.

To order The Writing of a Will or to find out more about the gift and estate planning program:

• Phone 847-733-3466 / e-mail plannedgiving@usbnc.org
• Or, fill out the form with the Bahá’í Funds envelope attached to this paper.

[Page 8]IAN SEMPLE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

know God through His Manifestation. As we draw closer to Bahá’u’lláh through study, steadfastness and observing His laws, Semple said, “we become profoundly aware ... that in all things we are but willing instruments in His Hand, and that He can achieve things which we could never dream of attempting on our own strength.”

During the same week, Semple spoke at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, about the authority of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.

Louise and Ian Semple sit among the friends in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship, just before his talk there in early September. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

Cycle of deepening and action

Every Bahá’í needs to “acquire a sound and penetrating knowledge of the Teachings,” he told the ABS gathering in Seattle. But the process reinforces itself: Knowledge is deepened when we act upon it in service to the Cause and to humanity.

The Bahá’í community expresses that cycle of learning, action and deeper learning in three general forms, Semple said. Those forms are:

• The perpetual striving of each Bahá’í to draw closer to God in mind, action and spirit.
• The “persistent and fundamental work” of teaching the message of Bahá’u’lláh and building His Administrative Order.
• Participation by Bahá’ís in humanitarian service and the betterment of the life of society.

While all those fields of effort complement and reinforce each other, the Universal House member said, “the range of tasks that demand our attention are infinite in range and number.”

“How are we to know what is the most urgent?” he asked, a question sure to reflect a quandary faced by many Bahá’í individuals and institutions.

The answers are not simplistic, he indicated—in fact, Bahá’ís are called on to exercise “wisdom, breadth of vision and clear understanding.” Sometimes, “as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained, the important has to be sacrificed so that the most important can be achieved.”

Tolerance and righteousness

This principle sometimes applies in ways that are not obvious. For example, social and economic development projects can draw people to the Faith and indirectly support the teaching work. But to ensure that people in general trust the Faith’s motives, a distinction must be drawn so that Bahá’ís and others see our humanitarian work as “a bona fide contribution to the betterment of life, and not a mere front for teaching the Faith,” he said.

Bahá’í moral education efforts can benefit from a similar balance, he said. In keeping with Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortation to observe “tolerance and righteousness,” we should not appear to insist that people outside the Bahá’í community observe Bahá’í laws of conduct—but still should keep an eye on the end of the process, recognizing that real peace and unity is impossible “so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded.”

Semple told powerful stories of three Bahá’ís who relied on divine aid to overcome uncertainty and difficulties in working toward goals: an early believer who completed a dangerous errand at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s request despite not knowing whom he was to contact; an Englishman who became the first Bahá’í resident of the Spitzbergen Islands when he discovered a job opportunity after moving to Norway; and a National Assembly secretary who delivered a message from the Universal House to a visiting dignitary despite bureaucratic barriers.

He said those stories “illustrate a natural spiritual phenomenon. God and His Manifestation are not just satisfying philosophical ‎conccpts concepts‎. They are the most fundamental of the realities of our lives, Whose purpose and presence should always be in our thoughts.”

Guiding the institutions

In his talk at the House of Worship on Sept. 6, Semple restated a core principle of the Covenant: “Bahá’u’lláh protects His Cause by guiding the institution at its center.”

But there is a difference in the ways the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice have been authorized to act on such guidance, he said. Shoghi Effendi’s authority as Guardian was in the interpretation of the Writings, while the House of Justice has authority to legislate on some matters the Writings don’t directly address. And the House, in making decisions, refers to the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the interpretations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.

Many times when Shoghi Effendi interpreted specific passages of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings, he identified passages that should be taken literally, that are symbolic, and that relate to future conditions of society, for example. But in all cases, “he was interpreting ... not revealing writings,” Semple said.

The House of Justice, he said, has been prohibited from ruling in some areas, but the Writings often authorize action on closely related topics. For example, when a believer asked for a prayer that could be said for the House of Justice itself, it declined because of a passage in Bahá’u’lláh’s 13th Glad-Tidings that appeared to restrict the House from making rulings on acts of worship.

However, in one exception to that restriction, the Guardian specifically wrote that the House of Justice was empowered to rule on any obscure details of the Obligatory Prayers, such as movements and ablutions.

“The great vision has been given to us ... by Shoghi Effendi,” he said. “The details we shall see as they unfold ... as time passes and as the House of Justice makes its decisions.” ♦

DOUGLAS MARTIN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and elsewhere.

Devotions opening the morning and afternoon sessions featured the Creative Word sung and recited to the accompaniment of cellist Gwendolyn Watson.

Adding to an atmosphere of reunion were the rollicking South DeKalb Bahá’í New World Ensemble and individual singers who soon had the friends on their feet, clapping and joining in.

Douglas Martin delivered two talks in the Atlanta area. Photo by Tom Mennillo

Martin spoke twice with insight and sharp humor, despite suffering from a cold and having to speak softly. He also was prevailed upon by Roberts to relate how he came to the Faith and to describe a “day in the life” of a Universal House of Justice member.

In “Century of Light,” the morning talk, Martin looked at the Bahá’í Faith’s place in history. After lunch, in “Taking Yes for an Answer,” he did the same for the American community’s place in the Bahá’í world.

No question of blame

In one of the question-and-answer sessions that followed each talk, Martin was asked whether America was attacked because “patent evils” persist in its society. Martin was emphatic in his response.

“America was attacked by psychopathic forces,” he said. “You should not imagine it was attacked because America is evil. Only because it exists.”

Likewise, Martin said, it is right that the United States, even with its imperfections, must lead the fight against this threat to global peace. Parenthetically, he said if he were an American he’d be plastering the nation with tastefully printed copies of the Prayer for America.

He addressed the U.S. Bahá’í community in similarly unequivocal language.

Martin said the recent terrible blows have “awakened new dimensions” in our faith and he expressed confidence that this “galvanizing effect” soon will attract our neighbors.

Everything is in place for our efforts to make that happen, he said. They just need to intensify. “There’s nothing you can’t do,” he said.

Backward and forward

Martin’s talk on the topic “Century of Light” brought the friends along on an examination of the role historical interpretation has played in people’s understanding of forces at work in the world:

• Any effort to interpret history requires the lens of a worldview. At the close of the 20th century, however, it was painfully clear that no prevailing approach really could explain what had transpired.
• Our job now as Bahá’ís is to step in and depict history from the perspective of a single human family.
• Our approach starts with a recognition that the world “is as a shadow stretching out”—it’s useful but the lowest level of infinite realms. Our chief link to those realms is Revelation.
• Bahá’ís possess, through Bahá’u’lláh, a second vital connection: the cord of a Covenant that orders relationships today between people and with God.
• We’re pioneering another truth, that authority can be conferred for the organization of society.
• And through our system of knowledge we can trace the evolution of spiritual forces and see them at work. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá did just that in such writings as The Secret of Divine Civilization, Memorials of the Faithful and A Traveler’s Narrative.
• Shoghi Effendi systematized the analysis of history in God Passes By—true to the Texts, rigorously accurate in its depiction of events, and honest in recognizing that the details of history will be refined indefinitely as other documents come to light.
• The book Century of Light, prepared at the direction of the Universal House of Justice, illuminated two developments other historians have missed.
• First is a growing consciousness of the oneness of the human family. Catalysts of this transformation have been the integrating forces that are rapidly building and the disintegrating forces that are collapsing one by one.
• Second is the evolution of the Cause of God. As institutions and understanding develop, we have put in place all the elements necessary for the Bahá’í community to function as a model of what society can be.

SEE DOUGLAS MARTIN, PAGE 30 [Page 9]

‘Dogged diligence’ has rewards

Communities recognized for perfect record in retrieving seeker calls

Throughout the United States, souls searching for the loving message of Bahá’u’lláh are responding by the thousands to national and local media campaigns.

Many seekers who had heard of the Faith previously have been awakened to their search by these media campaigns and have asked for information and for the location of the nearest Bahá’í community.

Responding to these souls requires the friends to provide immediate and thoughtful contact with a loving and nurturing spirit. Of paramount concern to the National Spiritual Assembly is that local institutions systematically and diligently follow up every time a seeker shows interest in this way.

The National Teaching Office is recognizing communities that demonstrate exemplary commitment to sustained and systematic follow-up. In support of their “dogged diligence,” 487 communities are being designated as “Golden Retrievers.”

These are the communities and state default box holders with a perfect record of retrieving their national media campaign seeker messages since the beginning of the national broadcasts. They have retrieved all seekers’ inquiries from 1-800-22-UNITE calls and the public Web site (www.us.bahai.org).

Those communities are too numerous to name here, but a complete list is on the Media Campaign pages of the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org).

Since the beginning of the campaign in summer 1998, a great deal of progress has been made in the seeker response system at the national level.

Not knowing what kind of seeker response to expect, the National Teaching Office started with one staff member who used volunteers to cut and paste (literally) seeker information onto letters to let communities know a seeker from their area had responded to the campaign. A simple computer database was created to maintain seeker requests, and that database evolved into today’s “Harvest” database system.

As many of you may be aware, a new Web-based seeker response system is being implemented to improve the systematic response to seekers. And now, the Internet system will replace the phone-based voice-mail boxes. Said Gwen Ellis of the National Teaching Office, “It’s like going from the abacus to the computer in a matter of a few years.”

Top 19 Golden Retrievers

Of the 487 communities and defaults who have a perfect record of retrieving their messages, below is a list of the top 19 in order of the number of seeker messages sent to their voice-mail box.

Note: A default is a voice-mail station that receives a message if the local community that first received it doesn’t retrieve it within three days (formerly five days).

1. New Orleans, LA: 248 2. California Northern state default: 134 3. Washington state default: 132 4. Arkansas state default: 114 5. Austin, TX: 100 6. Boston, MA: 96 7. Chico, CA: 83 8. Hollywood, FL: 81 9. Jacksonville, FL: 72 10. Wake County, NC: 66 11. Asheville, NC: 65 12. West Virginia state default: 65 13. Colorado state default: 65 14. Modesto, CA: 63 15. Gary, IN: 60 16. Minneapolis, MN: 58 17. Madison, WI: 58 18. New Hampshire state default: 53 19. Peach County, GA: 52

For a complete list of the 487 “Golden Retriever” honorees, access www.usbnc.org and click on “Media Campaign.”

How the new system works

When a seeker calls 1-800-22-UNITE or visits the public Web site and requests more information, the message is forwarded to the National Teaching Office where messages are retrieved every business day.

A seeker’s information from 1-800-22-UNITE is carefully listened to and then entered into a database. The contact information for seekers who visit the Web site will be transferred into this database at the Bahá’í National Center. Requests by visitors to the House of Worship are also entered into the data-base and forwarded to the communities.

The seeker’s ZIP code determines to which community a seeker’s information will be sent.

SEE RETRIEVAL, PAGE 25

Look at what’s on the Web!

www.usbnc.org

Click on “Media Campaign” at top

Helping your community do its part in the media campaign

• Important information about available video programs
• National broadcast schedule
• Sample call-back script and follow-up letter
• A variety of tools for utilizing the video programs, TV commercials and Web-based materials

www.bahaistudy.org A new Web site developed for seekers, premiering as a link from the national public Web site (www.us.bahai.org). Developed under the auspices of the National Teaching Committee by a team including Dwight Allen, Thane Terrill and Simon Richmond, the site is intended to supplement the deepening process for seekers and prompt them to make heart-to-heart contact with the Bahá’ís themselves.

Remember the seeker response systems: 1-800-22-UNITE www.us.bahai.org

Fire lit in Milwaukee leads to response and declaration in Kansas City, KS

A man’s conversation with a Bahá’í returning home from the Building the Kingdom conference in July led him to investigate the Faith. And the way his hometown Bahá’ís responded is a teaching story in itself.

It started on an airliner bound for Seattle, on which Sanford Kelley of Kansas City, Kansas, happened to be seated next to a woman named Fran.

“She said that her family had come from the Bahá’í [conference] and what a beautiful experience it was,” said Kelley.

The woman briefly described the Teachings and used them to answer questions Kelley had about morality, ethics and other issues.

“I thought I may have found something I had been searching for and just didn’t know what it was,” he said.

“This woman possessed such a presence of peace, contentment and joy that whatever she was experiencing by faith, I wanted to know a little more about,” he recalls. “I remember she said not to take her word at face value, but to look at it for myself.”

applying the FIVE YEAR PLAN: • Seeker follow-up

Kelley did just that upon returning home. The story picks up the next Thursday, when Loree Foroughi-Gross, a Kansas City Bahá’í, retrieved a message from Kelley on the 1-800-22-UNITE line.

Foroughi-Gross prepared a packet for mailing and looked in the phone book to make sure of his address. The name was there with a phone number but different address. So she called and left a message.

“At 2 a.m. Friday the phone rang and my husband answered,” recalls Foroughi-Gross. “He invited the caller to our regular Sunday Pancake Breakfast, where we would answer all his questions.”

But Kelley wanted the materials right away, so Foroughi-Gross finally agreed to deliver them.

And she did. With one eye on a chained barking dog, Foroughi-Gross approached the front door.

“The door opened and Sanford came down the walk to meet me,” she said. “His face was glowing, his eyes were lit up, and he warmly shook my hand and introduced himself.”

When Foroughi-Gross asked how Kelley had become interested in the Faith, he recounted his airborne conversation.

“Having been to Milwaukee myself, I knew where the fire had been lit,” recalls Foroughi-Gross.

Kelley showed up at Pancake Breakfast that Sunday with his friend Anna Marie Minnick. “She was equally interested in the Faith,” said Foroughi-Gross. “We talked for three or four hours and neither of them had any objections, only curiosity.”

Kelley and Minnick took books home, attended a couple of firesides in the Foroughi-Gross home, and at the Pancake Breakfast two weeks later declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

“I have found that after searching for a religion and faith that I could truly believe and practice, that I feel that I have been a Bahá’í all of my life, but never knew,” said Kelley. “I realize that I have a long way to go in my new spiritual life, but I know that I am on the right path.”

A path that was discovered during a chance conversation aboard a plane.

“I would like to thank God for sending Fran and her family to bring the message from Bahá’u’lláh into my life and for the great impact that their family made in my life,” said Kelley. ♦ [Page 10]

Iowans crown their efforts at fair

INFORMATION FROM JUDITH GRIFFIN AND AL PROSSER

It was literally a crowning achievement. The Bahá’ís in Iowa solidified their sense of unity, and more than 13,000 souls of all ages heard about the Bahá’í Faith—and transmitted the message to others by wearing paper crowns on their heads.

For the first time in many years, the Bahá’ís of Iowa had a booth at the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 9–19. The Spiritual Assembly of Des Moines sponsored the booth, giving it the theme “Unity in Diversity.”

The Assembly chose to give away two pamphlets, “Who Are the Bahá’ís?” and “A New Vision of Race Unity,” as well as “Golden Rule” and “Two Wings of a Bird” fliers.

But the “Virtues Crowns” were the biggest hit, with adults as well as children. The colorful paper crowns prominently feature the words “I am a noble soul” and list a variety of virtues. Bahá’ís worked ahead of time to stamp the crowns with the 1-800-22-UNITE number and the address for the Iowa Bahá’í Web site (www.iowabahai.org), developed for the needs of this project.

About 1 million people, a third of Iowa’s population, attended the fair. For 10 days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Bahá’ís staffed the booth in a newly air-conditioned exhibition building on the main concourse.

As the fair progressed, more and more people came by to ask about the Faith. Most were friendly and inquisitive. A very few provided the required element of opposition. Some visited for a few seconds; some stayed and talked for more than an hour. Schoolteachers asked for the Golden Rule materials to use in their classes. Inquiry cards were filled out, with plans for followup after the fair.

Iowa Bahá’ís Lea Baker (from left), Tressa Clifton, Nancy Clifton, Ken Speas and Denise Wagner gather at the State Fair booth. Photo by Judith Griffin

The Spiritual Assembly of West Des Moines rented space in the Des Moines Botanical Center to have firesides available each evening. A local family provided a staging area for shifts getting ready to serve. Prayers were said and announcements given, food was shared, and sleeping arrangements were offered to many booth workers.

The planning phase

From the beginning of planning, assistance was sought from the National Teaching Committee and they most generously responded. Meetings in Milwaukee between the NTC and members of the Local Assembly took place as well as meetings with Justice St. Rain of Special Ideas, a publisher of literature and special materials.

It was only shortly before the Kingdom Conference—late in June—that the fair confirmed that the Bahá’ís would have a booth. The venture to put everything together by early August involved virtually all 200 Bahá’ís in Iowa.

The National Teaching Committee’s Media Office supplied a backdrop for the booth, with photos of Bahá’ís and of the House of Worship in Wilmette. That backdrop was quite visible the first day, until owners of the booth next door put up a high curtain. So the Bahá’ís found an eight-foot banner with the words: “The Bahá’í Faith! Come ask us about it!” and the display became quite visible again.

If nothing else, a few things were accomplished that are major to the Bahá’ís in Iowa: The Bahá’í Faith is certainly better-known than before, and the Bahá’ís in Iowa became much more unified. Through the weeks of hard work, they got to know each other to a much greater degree than believed possible.

Oklahoma City reaches out to community with children’s classes

Enrollment of a new believer and participation of many neighborhood children in Garden of Light Bahá’í School classes are immediate results of an extraordinary effort by Oklahoma City-area friends to reach out.

The Spiritual Assembly’s vision was that the school provide spiritual education to children ages 5–14 within and outside the Bahá’í community, as well as to seekers.

A core group stepped forward and others joined them to choose a curriculum and promote the classes.

Planning led to action when Bahá’ís visited nearly 350 units of low-income housing near the OKC Bahá’í Center in the week preceding Labor Day.

Residents were invited to a Sept. 2 neighborhood picnic in the adjoining park—with free hot dogs and chips—and to Sunday classes beginning the following weekend.

A Center volunteer working late at night received a phone call from one of the invitees. The woman ended up talking about the Faith for nearly two hours, and the next morning showed up at the Center and declared her belief.

The Sunday picnic drew at least 75 non-Bahá’ís. Many took literature, and about 15 watched videotapes. Firesides broke out all over the park.

Several children were pre-enrolled in children’s classes and other needs of residents were identified. A few people said this would be their only meal that day, and the Bahá’ís sent extra hot dogs and chips home with them.

A homeless family living in the park particularly appreciated the short program of devotions. Without clean clothes or showers they didn’t feel they could attend a church.

Hearing this, a project resident who had once been in that situation invited the family to come and take showers any time they needed.

Bahá’í Newsreel: Focus on Education

The next edition of the Bahá’í Newsreel, Volume 11, Number 2, will be the first in a series on Bahá’í education in the United States. Special focus will be on the spiritual education of children, our national community’s history of children’s classes and Sunday schools, and the systematization of those programs through Core Curriculum. Also included in this edition of the Newsreel will be discussion on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the role of Bahá’ís in the current condition of the world.

Wilmette Institute

Distance learning: Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, individual development, the Bible

Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation: A Systematic Survey, Nov. 1, 2001–Feb. 28, 2002 Registration is open all this month for this distance-learning course. In four months the major works of Bahá’u’lláh will be examined, parts will be read, and lesser works will be discussed. The purpose of the course is to give the student an overview of what Bahá’u’lláh wrote, when, and on what subjects. The course thus should be a useful opportunity to get oriented in Bahá’u’lláh’s writings. Tuition: $200; financial aid available.

The Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Development of the Individual, Nov. 15, 2001–Feb. 15, 2002 This course will examine what human beings are from every angle, especially drawing on psychological insights and the perspective of the Bahá’í scriptures. Tuition: $150; financial aid available.

The Bible, Dec. 1, 2001–Feb. 28, 2002 The Bible will be studied as historical literature, as Jewish and Christian scripture, and as a work interpreted and clarified by the Bahá’í scriptures. It will be useful in understanding and acquiring familiarity with the contents of the Bible. Tuition: $150; financial aid available.

Partial Schedule for Early 2002 Islam for Deepening and Dialogue, Jan. 15–April 15 Hinduism for Deepening and Dialogue, Feb. 7–May 7 Rediscovering the Heroic Age: The Bahá’í Faith, 1863–1921, March 1–May 31

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 for students unable to pay full tuition. Registration is open throughout the first month of each course.

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 course fees. [Page 11]

L.A. schools adopt Bahá’í-inspired curriculum

BY RANDOLPH DOBBS

five PLAN:

• applying the Social/economic development
• Advancing education for children

Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest school district with a combined K–12 enrollment and adult extension education population totaling nearly 900,000 students, has adopted a Bahá’í-inspired curriculum, according to a spokesperson for the Children’s Enrichment Program (CEP), a social and economic development project located at the L.A. Bahá’í Center.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors for CEP, Teresa Langness announced that as of June, the curriculum for the after-school program has been approved for use in all L.A. Unified schools by the district’s Educational Options Division.

“It was a very serendipitous thing,” Langness said. “Debbie Spears, who serves as art director for our annual report, was preparing our [CEP’s] 376-page curriculum at home and asked her husband, Eric, to proofread it for her.”

Eric Spears, recently promoted from principal of a continuation high school to head the district’s Educational Options department, read the curriculum and told himself, “I want to make this curriculum available throughout the district.”

“Eric had previously discussed a collaboration with CEP,” Langness said. “He took the initiative and contacted the organization and received permission to offer it to any interested schools in the district.”

The oldest and most successful social and economic development project in the Los Angeles Bahá’í community, the Children’s Enrichment Program is an independent nonprofit organization and receives its funding from foundations and individual donors. CEP began operations nearly 10 years ago, following the riots in the aftermath of the verdict in the Rodney King police brutality case.

Children from the largely African-American neighborhood near the L.A. Bahá’í Center benefit from its unique full-circle learning educational model, which uses character education as a springboard for academic and arts enrichment, conflict resolution and community service. Students also receive assistance with homework and participate in field trips and international correspondence. The program’s mission is to help children embrace their role as meaningful contributors to society as its helpers and healers.

In addition to adding character education in an after-school format, the Los Angeles Unified School District also intends to incorporate similar training in its District C, which encompasses a large segment of the city. According to District C Superintendent Robert Collins, every parent and student will be asked to abide by “six pillars of character”—trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

According to a recent study, “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California,” after-school programs significantly reduce crime and improve academic achievement. CEP’s students are routinely tested for academic improvement, and last year 100 percent of students increased their ranking in the national percentile for reading while 84 percent increased their ranking in spelling and math.

Adaptable to either elementary or middle schools, the Bahá’í-inspired curriculum manual, “Full Circle Learning,” is available to other organizations wanting the benefits of teaching the whole child in a way that affects both attitude and aptitude. Recently, the Children’s Enrichment Program opened a new site in Anthony, New Mexico, sponsored by the Anthony and Loma Linda Elementary Schools. Other inquiries have come from Bahá’í communities in other parts of the world with the potential for sites as far away as South Africa. ♦

For more information, contact the Children’s Enrichment Program, 5755 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90016 (e-mail ).

Virtuous projects

Character education inspires a variety of service

Learning and practicing virtues is not only good for us as individuals, it’s key to helping transform the society around us—as many Bahá’ís and their communities have discovered.

Three such ever-evolving projects are spotlighted here. The settings differ: public school, Sunday school, an inner-city neighborhood.

But the results are the same: all ages benefiting from Bahá’í-sponsored character education projects for children, and growing recognition of the underlying Bahá’í message.

Washougal, WA

After waiting four years for the opportunity, Diane Tufts trekked to Abbotsford, British Columbia, in February to be trained as a virtues facilitator.

“Intuitively I knew that I must receive this training to become the wing that would bring the balance for my husband’s training,” said Tufts, a Bahá’í in Washougal, near Vancouver, Washington.

“There is such energy in this project. It takes on a life of its own once the focus is there and the intent is pure.”

Tufts had no sooner returned home than she started noticing “Keys to Success” signs all around town.

Read one in a store window: “The key to success this month is responsibility. I will be responsible.”

To Tufts, this sounded like something straight out of the Virtues Project. So she followed the trail of posters to an elementary school.

In the school library she met the “culprit,” who produced from behind her counter a copy of Linda Kavelin Popov’s The Family Virtues Guide—the basis for Tufts’ own virtues training.

The librarian had taken the training in Portland, Oregon, then introduced her principal to the idea. They came up with the poster campaign as a way of reinforcing virtues in the community, at school and in the life of the students.

Each month, dozens of posters displaying a new virtue are placed in storefront windows and in school buses.

Tufts volunteered to place the posters to relieve teachers of the burden. It gave her an opportunity to serve the community and get to know the store owners.

In conversation, these shopkeepers revealed a side benefit: The campaign is serving to improve their workplaces.

The next step was to introduce the campaign to the school district next door, Camas.

A meeting with the superintendent of schools led to a meeting with a principal and seven district councilors.

Tufts just happened to have the Virtues Project Educator’s Guide, a virtues poster for schools, virtue cards and pocket virtue cards with her.

The officials bought the materials on the spot and started consulting on how best to use them at school and in the community. The spirit is spreading.

Orange County, NY

BY JEAN BROOKS

Every Sunday in a cluster of towns near the New Jersey line, a group of Bahá’ís and their friends gather for Brilliant Star Family Sunday School. The location rotates: once a month at Warwick Town Hall, once a month at Woodbury Senior Center, other weekends at a family’s home.

If everyone came at the same time, there would be about 33 souls, including 11 children and youths ages 2–17.

It has taken more than five years to get to this level. It all started when Kathy Grammer, inspired by the Four Year Plan, determined to create a local, consistent teaching activity.

Firesides were the first logical step, but they drew no response. Eventually she discovered something people in her area did want: moral and spiritual education for their children.

Grammer recruited Chris Sinclair, a Bahá’í several towns away, to attend with her two daughters, and she launched Sunday School every week in her home. Initially the text used was The Virtues Guide.

Gradually, openness to individual teaching developed. Participating parents began to become Bahá’ís and share hosting and instructing.

In the current format, Margie De Rosso and her guitar open by leading musical prayers. Next come spoken prayers, with older children often helping little ones to read.

Parents take turns giving the lesson, a half-chapter a week from The Divine Art of Living, followed by lively discussions on applying the Writings.

When the group is large and space is available, a mom teaches the children separately for part of the lesson period. All reunite for the last part of the lesson, which includes a visual demonstration.

Children then draw names from hats to determine which adult and which child the whole group will pray for during the coming week.

After closing prayers, all share a lunch provided by a member family, again on a rotating basis.

Every three months a core committee meets to work out the schedule. Mary Ann Rothstein makes up clear and colorful monthly calendars detailing location, teacher and chefs for each week and mails them to all participants.

The schedule also includes parties to celebrate some Bahá’í Holy Days. These festive events, along with the...

SEE VIRTUOUS, PAGE 25

The joy of learning virtues is on the faces of children taking part in the Soul Miners program in Columbus, Ohio. [Page 12]

Pioneer training: focused, ready

One of the mandates for the Office of Pioneering is to help prepare the friends spiritually for the challenges of international service.

The core of the Pioneer Training Program is deepening on the Writings regarding the Covenant, pioneering, teaching and service.

Also included are a cross-cultural simulation activity, interaction with current and veteran pioneers and assistance with the practical aspects of effective pioneering.

Offered regularly throughout the year, these programs are open to adults and youth alike.

In the Tablets of the Divine Plan, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá outlined a “grand design for the spiritual conquest of the planet” and called on the believers to exert ourselves in promulgating the Cause of God throughout the world.

He emphasized the significance of pioneering and asked us to arise and teach, saying: “Travel ye to the East and to the West of the world and summon the people to the Kingdom of God. Hence the mercy of God must encompass all humanity.”

The Hand of the Cause Horace Holley commented on the significance of pioneering on a personal level, describing it as a journey “from an old self to a new self.”

Both the spiritual journey and the material one from one country and culture to another benefit from thoughtful planning on the part of the traveler.

A Pioneer Training Program is one of the most important provisions for this most meritorious of services to Bahá’u’lláh.

The benefits to participants of these programs is best described in their own words:

“This has been an ‘eye’ in my ‘hurricane’ of preparations for our departure—an opportunity for spiritual centering.”

“Prior to this training, it was really difficult for me to realize the spiritual significance of going pioneering. ... Coming here did exactly that and truly made the experience of my journey a reality.”

“I enjoyed and appreciated this program, not only because it helped in preparing and thinking about serving abroad but also because it made me think about serving the Cause in this country as well.”

“This program allowed me to not only get a glimpse of what physical preparations I must make in order to go but also provided me with the spiritual perception that I undoubtedly needed in order to be successful in my service to Bahá’u’lláh. It gave me the fuel and spiritual energy to be effective in my plans.”

“It has awakened my spirit to the life of a pioneer and has made my life so much more open to the love of Bahá’u’lláh and has truly prepared me on the inside and outside.”

“[This course] helped me look at all the actual preparation I needed to do. This included spiritual as well as practical.”

“I’ve learned so much invaluable information that I will definitely draw on during my year of service.”

“[This program has] rekindled the pioneer in my soul.”

“I had never thought of myself as a pioneer until this program—just someone going on a year of service.”

“Being with those who are thinking of arising, or who already have, I think is one of the best ways to prepare for teaching.”

“It has given me assurance in my ability and helped me get over my fears.” ◆

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

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, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail rbcinternational@usbnc.org).

Answers to frequent questions about serving internationally are posted on the Web (www.usbnc.org, NSA Departments). See page 30 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 Bahá’í Councils section.

Northeastern States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, contact the Northeast Regional Bahá’í Council Secretary, Joel Nizin (phone 781-438-1647, e-mail rbcnortheast@usbnc.org).

To inquire about traveling teaching, contact the traveling teaching coordinator, Diana Rouse Kaufman (phone 207-883-0668, e-mail dianakaufman@mediaone.net).

Central States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, contact the Central Regional Bahá’í Council Secretary, Curtis Russell (e-mail rbccentral@usbnc.org).

To inquire about traveling teaching, contact the appropriate state traveling teaching coordinator (list is available on www.usbnc.org in the Regional Councils section) or contact Marilyn Ray (phone 614-263-2396, e-mail marilynray@columbus.rr.com).

Western States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer or about traveling teaching, contact the appropriate traveling teaching-homefront pioneering coordinator for each state (list available on www.usbnc.org in the Regional Councils section), or one of the regional coordinators:

Traveling teaching: Jan Saeed, (phone 801-463-2287, e-mail jsaeed@usbnc.org).

Homefront pioneering: Flor Toloui, (phone 760-721-6834, e-mail ftoloui@aol.com).

For information on American Indian reservations, contact the regional American Indian teaching coordinator, Helen Kiely, (phone 801-487-7096, e-mail hkiely@usbnc.org).

Southern States

To inquire about locating as a homefront pioneer, please contact regional coordinating team member Susan Crossley (phone 770-435-0158, e-mail susanrc@bellsouth.net).

To inquire about traveling teaching, please contact regional coordinating team member Kitty Schmitz (phone 770-971-1582, e-mail kschmitz@mindspring.com). ◆

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

Central States

Joliet, Illinois, will be losing two active community members, potentially jeopardizing its functioning Local Spiritual Assembly, which is incorporated and has been in existence since 1972. Homefront pioneers are sought to support the Assembly and facilitate local teaching efforts. Feast and Holy Day observances are held regularly. Joliet is 45 minutes southwest of Chicago and within a 1½-hour drive of the House of Worship. The population of 106,000 is racially diverse, and the area has many employment opportunities, a variety of housing options, public transportation, two hospitals, two universities and a junior college. Please contact the Bahá’ís of Joliet, P.O. Box 2662, Joliet, IL 60434-2662.

Northeastern States

Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, needs two more adult Bahá’ís to establish a Spiritual Assembly. The island desperately needs nurses and teachers. Housing for nurses is provided and soon teachers will have housing too. Nantucket is 30 miles south of Cape Cod near the Gulf Stream, which moderates temperatures year-round. It has 50 miles of beautiful beaches and excellent schools. This resort island has many of the benefits of a metropolitan area with live theater music and a large art community. There is a great chance to meet and teach people of almost any country, including many people of capacity. Please address questions to Andrea Dougan, Bahá’í group secretary, (phone 508-228-5696, e-mail adougan@nantuckets.net—don’t forget the “s” in the e-mail address).

Southern States

The Regional Council has placed top priority for homefront pioneering on localities where Local Spiritual Assemblies can benefit from the addition of homefront pioneers, or cities with populations of 50,000 or more and no Local Spiritual Assembly.

• Alabama: Dothan, Mobile
• Arkansas: Fort Smith, Pine Bluff
• Florida: Daytona Beach, Hialeah, Melbourne, Miami, Pensacola, Sarasota, West Palm Beach
• Georgia: Albany
• Kentucky: Owensboro
• Louisiana: Bossier City, Kenner, Lake Charles, Monroe
• North Carolina: Gastonia
• Oklahoma: Broken Arrow, Lawton
• Tennessee: Clarksville, Jackson
• Texas: Baytown, Beaumont, Galveston, Killeen, Laredo, Longview, Mesquite, Odessa, San Angelo, Tyler
• Virginia: Danville, Lynchburg, Portsmouth, Suffolk
• West Virginia: Huntington

Please contact the Southern Regional Traveling Teaching and Homefront Pioneering Coordinators listed at right.

Western States

The Regional Council has three main criteria for homefront pioneering goals: saving jeopardized or lapsed Assemblies; forming Assemblies in communities of seven or more believers; and saving/maintaining Assemblies on Indian reservations (marked * below).

Priority is on sites in the seven “breath of life” states designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Goal localities include the following (complete list on www.usbnc.org). These include a number of Assembly communities that can benefit from homefront pioneers (in italics).

For communities on Indian reservations (marked *), contact the regional traveling teaching coordinator or homefront pioneering coordinator (both listed at right).

• Arizona: Apache Junction, Bapchule District*, Bisbee, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Chino Valley, Clarkdale, Cochise Co. SW, Gold Canyon, Goodyear, Guadalupe, Houck Chapter*, Kaibito Chapter*, Kingman, Sedona, South Tucson, Sun City West, Surprise, Tolleson, Whiteriver
• Idaho: Ada County, Caldwell, Coeur d’Alene, Fort Hall Reservation*, Kootenai Co., Meridian, Twin Falls
• Montana: Billings, Blackfeet Reservation*, Bozeman, Butte-Silver Bow, Crow Agency*, Flathead Reservation*, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Lewis and Clark Co., Missoula Co., Northern Cheyenne Reservation*, Ravalli Co., St. Ignatius, Yellowstone Co.
• Nevada: Boulder City, Churchill Co., Lyon Co., Nye County/Pahrump, Winchester Township
• New Mexico: Artesia, Aztec, Belen, Bernalillo Co. E., Deming, Doña Ana Co. Cent., Grants, Jicarilla Apache Reservation*, Los Lunas, Lovington, Luna Co., Mountainair, Rio Arriba Co., Shiprock Chapter*, Socorro, Taos Co., Tohatchi Chapter*
• Utah: Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, La Verkin, Layton, Midvale, Ogden, Roy, Syracuse, Uintah-Ouray Reservation*, West Valley City
• Wyoming: Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Laramie, Evanston, Gillette, Jackson Hole, Lander, Laramie Co., Newcastle, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Weston Co., Wind River Reservation*
• California: 72 goal communities
• Colorado: 16 goal communities, including 2 on Indian reservations
• Oregon: 21 goal communities, including 2 on Indian reservations
• Washington: 39 goal communities, including 8 on Indian reservations ◆

[Page 13]

The Mount Carmel Terraces OFFICIAL OPENING

Video Collection Bahá’í World Center Videos

$44.95 VHS 6-Tape Set (ETSETN) $49.95 PAL 6-Tape Set (ETSETP) $49.95 SECAM 6-Tape Set (ETSETS)

This six-tape collection from the Bahá’í World Center captures all the events surrounding the official opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb.

The Mount Carmel Terraces OFFICIAL OPENING

Day One • Monday, 21 May 2001 • DEVOTIONAL PROGRAM BAHJÍ • 1 hour, 28 minutes

Day Two • Tuesday, 22 May 2001, Morning • WELCOME HAIFA CONVENTION CENTRE • 1 hour, 50 minutes

Day Two • Tuesday, 22 May 2001, Evening OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE TERRACES OF THE SHRINE OF THE BÁB ENTRANCE PLAZA OF THE TERRACES • 1 hour, 11 minutes

Day Three • Wednesday, 23 May 2001, Morning THE ASCENT OF THE TERRACES ENTRANCE PLAZA OF THE TERRACES • 1 hour, 18 minutes

Day Three • Wednesday, 23 May 2001, Evening DAZZLING ACHIEVEMENTS HAIFA CONVENTION CENTRE • 1 hour, 28 minutes

Day Four • Thursday, 24 May 2001, Evening • REFLECTIONS HAIFA CONVENTION CENTRE

Day Five • Friday, 25 May 2001, Morning GATHERING ON THE ARC 1 hour, 28 minutes

Rethinking Justice

Judge Dorothy Nelson $3.50 SC (RJ)

Dorothy Nelson is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals. Judge Nelson presents a new vision for the resolution of conflict in the 21st century. She argues that our concept of justice must be expanded to incorporate negotiation, conciliation, mediation and arbitration in one composite system. She offers the Bahá’í method of non-adversarial decision-making as a model for group consultation and cooperation worthy of the challenges we face today.

5 3/4" x 8 1/4", 23 pp. booklet

Door of Hope

The Bahá’í Faith in the Holy Land David S. Ruhe $18.95 SC (DHS)

An indispensable guide to the history and sites of pilgrimage of the Bahá’í Faith in the Holy Land. The author lived at the Bahá’í World Center for 25 years, and used the opportunity to methodically examine the geography, archaeology and history of all that relates to the Bahá’í Faith, as well as the results of Jewish, Christian, and Bahá’í scholarship. The text is enriched by a unique collection of historic photographs and drawings that prove both fascinating and of great value for Bahá’í pilgrims and those who have never visited the Holy Land.

6 7/8" x 9 1/4", 247 pp., appendices, bibliography, index, photos

Peace: More Than an End to War

compiled by Terrill G. Hayes, Richard A. Hill, Anne Marie Scheffer, Anne G. Atkinson and Betty J. Fisher SC $5.95 (PMEWS)

A comprehensive compilation of Bahá’í writings on peace. Contains the complete text of The Promise of World Peace and explores themes including the coming of age of humanity, the spiritual roots of peace, the path to world order, the construction of a peaceful global civilization and the basis of human happiness. Includes prayers for peace and unity and a description of the Bahá’í Faith for seekers. An outstanding one-volume resource for teaching and deepening.

5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 308 pp., contents, foreword, appendix, glossary, references, bibliography, index

The Promise of World Peace—presentation edition

To the Peoples of the World by the Universal House of Justice SC $3.95 (PWPP)

A message on the subject of peace from the Universal House of Justice to the peoples of the world. Addresses humanity’s coming of age, the spiritual roots of peace, the path to world order, the construction of a peaceful global civilization and the basis of human happiness. Includes a summary of the message and an addendum giving a brief overview of the Bahá’í Faith.

7 5/16" x 9 3/8", 39 pp., contents, addendum [Page 14]

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Written in both Spanish and English, this poem and selections from Bahá’í writings provides parents and teachers with tools to help children learn more about principles of obedience. Watercolor illustrations depict the adventures of Johnny/Juancho, the sea gull.

5 7/8" x 8 1/4", 34 pp., illustrations, appendix

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This compilation has been thoroughly researched and answers many questions about Bahá’í laws and dignified ways to assist those who are preparing for passage. There are suggestions for individuals, Spiritual Assemblies, families and funeral directors. References include support services and phone numbers for people with terminal illnesses. Recommendations for body preparation, sources for fabric, considerations for purchasing a casket and actual examples of personal experiences are presented to help with decisions in both anticipated and unexpected circumstances.

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PHOTO NOTECARDS

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Master $3.50 (AMAS)

Beautiful photo notecard with envelope. Includes a photo of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá seated with hands folded and features the passage that begins “To live the life is ...”

8 1/2" x 11"

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Most Mighty Branch $3.50 (AMMB)

Beautiful photo notecard with envelope. Features a painting of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá seated and includes the passage that begins “Now the time has come when we must part: ...”

8 1/2" x 11"

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Exemplar $3.50 (AEXE)

Beautiful photo notecard with envelope. Includes a colorized photo of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá greeting people in a garden and features the passage that begins “Look at Me, follow Me, be as I am ...”

8 1/2" x 11"

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Mystery of God $3.50 (AMYS)

Beautiful photo notecard with envelope. Includes a photo of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a young man and features the passage that begins “I say unto you that anyone who will rise up in the cause of God ...”

8 1/2" x 11"

The Virtues Project The Educator’s Guide Linda Kavelin Popov $24.95 SC (VPEG)

By the author of The Family Virtues Guide, this guide for counselors, teachers, caregivers and youth leaders offers a wealth of character-awakening activities and ideas to bring out the best in your students and yourself. Representing a holistic approach to character education, the method can easily be integrated into existing curricula in a classroom, school, day-care center or youth program. Major components include simple elements of character honored by all cultures and spiritual traditions: 52 basic virtues.

8 1/2" x 11", 208 pp.

Handmaidens of God Marzia Rowhani-Dalal $2.50 SC (HGS)

Bahá’í prayers for women featuring prayers for assistance, children, detachment, expectant mothers, forgiveness, healing, husbands, nearness to God, parents, praise and gratitude, protection, purification, spiritual qualities, steadfastness, and tests and difficulties.

3 3/4" x 6", 37 pp.

Towards a New Era Robert Thomas $8.00 SC (TNE)

This autobiographical work describes the author’s visit as a physics teacher to the ‎New Era School High School New Era High School‎ in Panchgani Maharashtra, India. A graduate of the University of Wales and accomplished educator, he had to modify his view of education as he approached a new academic environment. He noticed that in physics, when you “use any kind of instrument to investigate something, you not only learn about that something ... but also about the instrument.” He learned about himself and his views, which needed “adjusting” after he formed some very valuable and touching friendships.

5 1/2" x 8 1/4", 36 pp. contents, acknowledgements, foreword, pledge

Bahá’í Distribution Service Friends Serving Friends [Page 15]

MUSIC & VIDEOS

This Is Where I Live Character & Ethics music kit for classroom & youth choir Jennifer Russell

$25.00 CD and Booklet (TIWILCD)

This CD features the C&E Kids, a community youth choir of the Character & Ethics Project for the city of Glendale, California. The music kit has been adopted by the school district for classroom use. Kit materials include a 10-song CD (all songs are repeated with music tracks only), songbook with discussion questions, activity ideas, choir notes and lyric sheets to copy for classroom use. running time: 62:50

Beloved A Gift of Music Julie Rosser

$15.00 CD (BELCD)

Bahá’í themes and writings are set to gently rocking acoustic and electric accompaniment with soft soprano vocals by Julie Rosser. Her contemporary sound and style (somewhere between Bjork, Natalie Merchant and Jewel) will appeal to discriminating music lovers from youths to adults. running time: 31:20

Teaching Peace: Performance/Accompaniment Red Grammer

$24.00 CD (TPPACD)

The Parents’ Choice “Classic Award Winner” is now a performance/accompaniment CD! This recording features a chorus of children for performance support, but not the voice of Red Grammer himself. Keyed for children’s voices, this CD’s high spirits and infectious tunes will support and encourage kids to sing along in performance situations. All songs from the original CD are included. running time: 64:47

The Tablet of Ahmad intoned by Red Grammer

$11.95 CD (TACD)

This CD features the Tablet of Ahmad beautifully intoned by Red Grammer. An introduction of the story of Ahmad of Persia is adapted from “A Flame of Fire, The Story of the Tablet of Ahmad,” a two-part article by the Hand of the Cause of God Abu’l-Qásim Faizi published in the March and April 1967 issues of Bahá’í News. running time: 24:35

Love All The World music by Tim Urbonya

$19.95 CD and Booklet (LATW)

The writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are set to upbeat, well-thought-out music. Lyrics are printed in the book and depicted with colorful illustrations by children. Delightful, educational and beautiful. This combination is excellent for helping your children memorize verses from the Sacred Writings and be inspired to draw their own visions of the Bahá’í life. booklet, 4¾” x 5½”, CD running time: 39:59 minutes

Voices of Bahá in Concert directed by Tom Price with the Slovak National Orchestra

$14.95 CD (VOBCD)

Recorded live in Slovakia, March 2000. Drawing its membership from singers from all over the world, and after eight years and 10 concert tours, Voices of Bahá is finally featured in a recording that allows people to hear the group in concert. They perform music in a variety of styles, drawing on the writings and teaching of the Bahá’í Faith. running time: 68:05 minutes

Tahereh, Naghmeha-Haye Ushena, Part I (Persian) A Collection of Bahá’í Persian Songs, Part I ‎Tabereh Tahereh‎ Najmi

$10.95 Cassette (PTNU)

Features six Persian songs eloquently sung and arranged by ‎Tabereh Tahereh‎ Najmi with music by Rahmatullah Badie and Shahram Badie. Includes: Gonaham Bebakhsh, Vatan (Iran), Payameh Soroosh, Saghinameh, Ghiameh Aasheghaneh and Hazrateh Aalaa.

En • trance Henri Cross featuring Tracey Harris

$15.00 CD (ENCD)

Features 11 tracks of great R&B with a little jazz and funk mixed in! Inspired by the messages of the Bahá’í Faith, this entertaining CD features a variety of memorable songs including “Blessed Is The Spot” and “Building a Kingdom.” running time: 50:22

A Visit To The West By the Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh and Hand of the Cause of God ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá

$9.00 VHS (EVWN)

The Hand of the Cause of God ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá visited Bahá’í communities in North America and Europe at the direction of the Universal House of Justice. This video provides highlights of these trips, conveys his message of love to the friends and the spiritual aspects of the Right of God. He refers specifically to reciprocity and interdependence, which are fundamental ‎principals principles‎ of natural law and at the very heart of this mighty law of Bahá’u’lláh. running time: 43 minutes

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd. • Atlanta, GA 30336 call us • 800-999-9019 • toll-free [Page 16]

College credit NOW for Bahá’í Studies courses, majors, internships

BY JESSE FISH, OFFICE OF YOUTH AFFAIRS

In America today, very few universities offer courses that tie directly into the Bahá’í Faith, its rich textual canons, history, community and administration.

But as of Aug. 8, 2001, a ground-breaking proposal for the systematic study of the Bahá’í Faith was granted conditional approval by the General Studies Committee of the University of Washington. Now, highly motivated students can earn a “General Studies” Bachelor of Arts degree with a “Bahá’í Studies” theme.

Without Bahá’í courses, qualified faculty, endowments, curriculum, institutional experience, etc. at a particular university—what, outside of a miracle, could produce a Bahá’í Studies-theme major at this stage in the development of the Faith?

Key ingredients for designing a university Bahá’í program of study

Key features might include some form of the following: a host department that allows student-authorship of their own majors; internships; independent and ‎grpup group‎ study options through multiple departments and professors. These along with transfer credits and various university courses on comparative religion, Middle East civilization and languages, peace studies etc. may provide the basis for similar winning proposals.

Internship: This affords students the opportunity to receive college credit while championing goals of the Five Year Plan in social and economic development, research and service!

Independent study: Similar to internship, this avenue could allow students to provide invaluable services to Bahá’í institutions, training institutes and research agencies to help identify and address pressing needs in the community. A student may even earn credits while designing Bahá’í-themed coursework, majors etc. (this author did!).

Group study: Many colleges and universities reward collective student initiatives to design and facilitate their own coursework. This might be considered a “testing ground” or learning laboratory to see how responsive students and faculty are to different curricula addressing Bahá’í themes. After some trial and error, these courses may eventually become full-fledged university courses.

Existing university courses: The presence of existing university courses on comparative religion, Middle East studies and languages, international studies etc. will serve to strengthen the proposal by complementing and contextualizing courses on Bahá’í textual canons, history, community and administration. This also proves that the Bahá’í study program may rest on a stable foundation of existing coursework provided by the hosting institution.

Transfer credits: Some universities may formally recognize Bahá’í-inspired universities such as Landegg (Switzerland) or Núr (Bolivia) by accepting their transfer credit, or through the Core Curriculum partners of the National Teacher Training Center. Though this may happen on a case-by-case basis in the beginning, transferring credit may become much easier after several students request it.

They get the credit

University of Washington students have already received credit for the following:

• Facilitating a Ruhi study circle.
• Helping the Spiritual Assembly of Seattle develop a children’s workshop.
• Coordinating several projects for the Diversity Arts Project (Bahá’í youth workshop-type programs).
• Coordinating a “Peace Forum” at the university, including dance workshop performance and faculty panel discussion.
• Creating and coordinating a UW “Bahá’í Service Corps,” a social and economic development branch of the campus Bahá’í club, basically designed to connect students with Bahá’í communities’ service and research needs for college credit.
• Developing the UW Bahá’í Association’s Web page (http://students.washington.edu/bahai/).
• Creating a UW Bahá’í Association newsletter/quarterly report.
• Developing a “Virtues Theatre Project” program.
• Conducting a two-credit, student-designed class on Bábí history, with a professor of Near Eastern languages and civilizations as academic adviser.

Why support systematic efforts to introduce Bahá’í Studies to public schools?

Universities provide infrastructure, academic, material, financial and human resources, and countless opportunities for experimentation and application of newly acquired skills for building the kingdom of God on earth. By integrating students’ deepening of Bahá’í subjects with their regular course of study, they will be able to:

• See how the Faith applies to various disciplines and careers.
• Devote more time to the study of the Faith (especially at a time when university studies compete heavily for students’ time).
• Address the service and research needs of Bahá’í institutions and communities.
• Educate campus communities about the Bahá’í community and teachings.
• Develop staff/faculty relationships and formal recognition of the Bahá’í community.
• Experiment with various forms of Bahá’í-inspired curricula.
• Begin setting the stage for permanent, full-fledged and funded courses on Bahá’í subjects.
• Take Bahá’í academics to a higher level.
• Inspire a remarkable youth movement, the likes of which never before seen by human eyes!

Great! So how do I get involved?

For ideas, visit the University of Washington Bahá’í Association’s Web site (http://students.washington.edu/bahai/) and see how those students have used the site to promote their newsletter, service and study options. Or visit the “Campus Activism” section of www.bahaiyouth.com. Otherwise, contact the Office of Youth Affairs at the US Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201(phone 847-733-3499, e-mail ). ♦

Get connected with Bahá’í youth across the country!

College Students: To receive complimentary copies of Fertile Field (subsidized by the National Spiritual Assembly), register your college club with the Office of Youth Affairs, or read it online in the campus activism section of www.bahaiyouth.com! If you are a Bahá’í, please feel free to reimburse the National Fund at an amount you feel is appropriate.

If you are not enrolled in college, cannot access www.bahaiyouth.com, or would simply like a paper copy of Fertile Field mailed to your doorstep, you can purchase a yearly subscription (minimum 4 issues/year). Please contact the Office of Youth Affairs or visit the “campus activism” section of www.bahaiyouth.com for details.

Youth service opportunities

Bahá’í Youth Service Corps (BYSC) looks to Bahá’í Campus Clubs for Research & Service!

VOLUNTEER HELP WANTED on a part-time basis; work from home—no need to relocate!

1. IMPORTANT: Periodic assessments of different age groups’ response to our National Spiritual Assembly’s “Spiritual Missions” for children, junior youth and youth in the Five Year Plan.

a. Designing Surveys—Identify and prioritize what information is useful and in what format (multiple choice, short answer, etc.?), suggested audiences/sample groups, how the data should be analyzed, and how the survey should be written.

b. Analyzing Survey Results—Analysis of data using the best of Bahá’í scholarship!

2. URGENT: Message board moderators for www.bahaiyouth.com

a. Commitments of three months, 1-5 hours of moderation time/week (or more) will be most appreciated!

b. Assistance in development of sustainable moderation strategy for www.bahaiyouth.com’s public message board postings.

Note: To respond to these requests, or to inquire into a more complete listing of service needs, please visit the “service” section of www.bahaiyouth.com or contact the Office of Youth Affairs.

Office of Youth Affairs c/o Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central Street Evanston, IL 60201 Phone 847-733-3499 Fax 847-733-3502 E-mail

[Page 17]

Children Around the World Pray for Peace

Match the picture of each child to the prayer that he or she might say.

Bahá’u’lláh promised that one day there will be peace on earth. The leaders of every country will agree to end war. People will live in love and unity. Children and adults around the world, from all religions, pray for this time of peace to come.

1. “O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá • Bahá’í

2. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” —St. Francis of Assisi • Christian

3. “Grandfather Sacred One Teach us love, compassion, and honor That we may heal the earth And heal each other” —Ojibway Prayer • Native American

4. “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” —Numbers 6:24-6 • Jewish

5. “O God, thou art peace. From thee is peace and unto thee is peace. Let us live, our Lord, in peace and receive us in thy paradise, the abode of peace.” —Prayer at the Close of Salat • Muslim

6. “Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.” —The Upanishads • Hindu

“It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” —Bahá’u’lláh

When we love each other, we help bring peace to our families, schools, cities, and world. What can you do to bring peace?

Activity by Brilliant Star

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[Page 18]

Making the connections: Seattle conference links thought and action, spiritual and material

BY WENDY HELLER

The processes spiritualizing human society symbolized by the recently completed Mount Carmel Projects were the focus as 1,200 people gathered for the 25th annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies—North America.

“Towards a Spiritual Civilization” was the theme of the Labor Day weekend conference in Seattle, Washington.

Echoing through many of the presentations were the connections between thought and action and between the spiritual and the material worlds. Human action in the world manifests the divine Attributes and Names of God in the realm of creation.

The conference opened Friday with the meetings of 10 special interest groups (SIGs). Their daylong sessions offered presentations and discussions on a variety of topics.

The remainder of the weekend was devoted to a series of talks, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and performances revolving around the conference theme.

Talks, presentations

An opening talk on “Creation” was delivered by Lasse Thoresen, who composed the oratorio “Terraces of Light” for the Dedication of the Mount Carmel Projects.

“The world was not created once and for all,” Thoresen said. “It is under continual creation as the energies of the transcendent world flow into the world of matter and the world of human minds, manifesting itself in the creation of living beings, in the revelation of God through His manifestations, and in the rise and flourishing of human civilizations throughout history.”

The conference was especially honored to have Ian C. Semple, member of the Universal House of Justice, speak on the conference theme.

Semple examined “three principal methods which are being used to achieve Bahá’u’lláh’s purpose for the spiritualization of humankind”: individual effort to draw closer to God, the work of teaching the Faith and building the Administrative Order, and Bahá’í participation in humanitarian service. (See article, page 1)

The 19th Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture was jointly delivered by Hossein Amanat and Fariborz Sahba.

The two architects presented perspectives on the process of the construction of the Arc and Terraces of the Mount Carmel Projects.

Amanat offered “Reflections on the Architecture of the Arc” and Sahba recounted the vicissitudes and victories experienced by the team throughout the process of the construction in “From Vision to Reality.”

Counselor Rebequa Getahoun Murphy, in a presentation titled “Beyond the Century of Light,” examined the Universal House of Justice’s guidance to the Bahá’í world in eight recent documents and letters, while Counselor Eugene Andrews spoke on “Bahá’í Scholars and the Bahá’í Community: A New Relationship for Social Change.”

Andrews asserted that Bahá’í scholars and Bahá’í communities can build on each others’ strengths with healthy doses of wisdom and acceptance. In fact, he said, “I’m surprised that Bahá’í communities are not actively seeking scholars as homefront pioneers. We should be going after them like football coaches go after blue-chip players. It is really in the best interests of communities to attract the learned among us and further diversify their membership.”

Holly Hanson’s talk on “Clay into Crystal: How Thought Shapes Structure in the Pursuit of Justice” explored the process by which oppressive social structures can be changed by conscious action.

Hanson emphasized the need to overcome what she called functional atheism by making faith a real, living part of our society. “Functional atheism does not necessarily mean that people don’t believe in God, it means that people do not recognize or utilize the power of God to illuminate and transform every aspect of reality,” she said.

In “Authoritative Interpretations: Shoghi Effendi and the Institutions of the Bahá’í Faith,” Anne Furlong, a professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, rebutted recent objections to the authority of Shoghi Effendi’s translations.

File:Thoresen.jpg

Lasse Thoresen

Holly Hanson

Fariborz Sahba

File:Amanat.jpg

Hossein Amanat speaks on the construction of the Arc buildings.

A wealth of panels

Generating lively interest at the ABS conference were several panels at which Bahá’í scholars and academics described and exchanged views on particular topics and answered questions from the audience.

A panel on “Defense of the Faith—Bahá’í Apologetics in Our Time,” chaired by Peter Terry, with Nader Saeidi, Robert Stockman, Fiona Missaghian, Ian Kluge and Anne Furlong, generated enormous interest, attracting an overflow crowd.

Panel discussion on apologetics: Anne Furlong, Ian Kluge, Fiona Missaghian, Robert Stockman (not pictured: Nader Saeidi, Peter Terry). Photos by Michael Frank

Panelists addressed three topics: the rationale for Bahá’í apologetics, patterns of attack on the Faith, and the development ‎to of‎ those ideas which have typically characterized or propelled attacks on the Faith.

The common thread uniting all the comments was the profound importance of love in the defense of the Faith—love of the Faith as well as love of those who criticize it.

At a panel on “Bioethics and Medicine—A New Challenge for Bahá’í Scholars,” Ridvan Moqbel, Babak Etemad and Maryam Valapour presented topics related to bioethics to a standing-room-only crowd.

Considerable interest was generated as each member of the panel presented how Bahá’ís can play an increasing role in the bioethics debate.

Suggestions were made to initiate a special interest group on bioethics within the ABS, to increase publication of papers on topics that interface Bahá’í studies and bioethics, and to consider regional or national meetings focused specifically on developing Bahá’í perspectives in various areas of bioethics.

“Taking Collaboration Seriously: The Bahá’ís and Kofi Annan’s Millennium Report,” chaired by Holly Hanson, featured three insightful presentations on the content, scope and contributions of the Millennium Report to the United Nations general secretary.

Kim Naqvi, a development and economic geographer at the University of Saskatchewan, discussed the challenges arising from the use of a non-holistic worldview to analyze holistic measures addressing corruption and environmental degradation.

Mark Gilman, manager of the Urban Information Center at Dallas Public Library, encouraged participants to find local avenues of service, particularly through study circles, to address concerns raised in the Millennium Report.

Chetan Parikh, a professor of electrical engineering at the India Institute of Technology in Bombay, examined the relationship between poverty and corruption as raised in the report, and how the Bahá’í community might address such concerns through moral education classes.

In the Book Collectors, Archivists and Conservators session, Kurt Asplund displayed a sampling of choice old books and archival materials. William P. Collins demonstrated his computer database including more than 22,000 works mentioning the Bahá’í Faith, Payam Afsharian shared his expertise in book collecting, and Marleen Chase presented a detailed report about the concerns of local Bahá’í community archivists. [Page 19]Excerpts from a talk on "Towards a Spiritual Civilization" by Ian C. Semple, member of the Universal House of Justice, at the 25th annual meeting of the Association for Bahá’í Studies—North America:

"It was Shoghi Effendi who taught us how to build systematically, using plans to focus our endeavors, lest we dissipate our time and energy.....

"Over the decades, and especially in recent years, Bahá’ís have been learning to think in terms of process—of attuning their activities to the current stage in any particular process. This requires a breadth of vision in both space and time. One needs to evaluate experiences of past events, understand the implications of current actions for future developments, and measure their interaction with other activities being pursued at the same time.

"Nevertheless, it is essential that creative individuals continue to have 'bright ideas.' One of the skills which Bahá’í institutions are learning is how to evaluate and encourage these ideas and relate them to the work as a whole, so that they will contribute to overall progress, rather than be mere diversions....

"... [B]ecause all of us are still learning, and are imperfect in our understanding of the Faith, we inevitably make mistakes. It is clear, therefore, how important is the development of the Administrative Order and the evolution of its national and local institutions. The consultation employed by these institutions, and the authority they exercise in guiding the believers, help to avoid the ill effects of unwisdom or lack of knowledge on the part of individuals.

"One area in which there is increasing activity on the part both of Bahá’í institutions and of Bahá’í-inspired projects is that of moral education. Governments and educational institutions in many parts of the world are coming to recognize the pressing need for moral, and even spiritual, education, if their societies are not to decline still further into crime, anarchy and chaos, and many of them have been turning to the Bahá’ís to fill this gap.

"... [T]here is also a growing thirst for spirituality in people at large, and this is one reason why the House of Justice has encouraged Bahá’í communities to hold gatherings for prayer, meditation and reading of the Writings. These not only help raise the level of spirituality among the Bahá’ís themselves, but help spiritually thirsty non-Bahá’ís to enrich their lives and learn of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

"... [W]hatever we do in humanitarian service, the conveying of moral standards and the encouragement of spirituality and, indeed, in the teaching of the Faith itself, can have only a limited effect unless and until people fully accept the claim of Bahá’u’lláh. These activities are parts of a process and are not complete or adequate in themselves....

"The recognition of Bahá’u’lláh establishes a personal relationship and connection between the Manifestation of God and the believer. As we study... we become profoundly aware of the fact that in all things we are but willing instruments in His Hand, and that He can achieve things which we could never dream of attempting on our own strength. With closeness to Bahá’u’lláh, one learns to rely with confidence on His help and guidance in all that happens....

"... Moreover, the more we can attain to that spirituality, the more we can awaken it in the hearts of others....

"This understanding of individual spirituality should indicate to us the characteristics of a spiritual civilization. It is not just a society in which the people engage in prayer and meditation and are aware of the spiritual things of life such as beauty, harmony and kindliness. It is a society which lives and functions in accordance with the will of God and in the consciousness of His guiding Hand and Spirit. To describe such a civilization and how we will move towards it, I can do no better than to read the closing paragraphs of The Promised Day is Come. This passage is undoubtedly familiar to you all, but it bears reading and re-reading as we struggle with the problems, sufferings and looming disasters of the present period in history...."

Special interest groups

Ten special interest groups (SIGS) of the Association met on Friday.

Agriculture: Approximately 20 people, from as far away as Chile and Switzerland, participated in a "talking circle" in which each shared concerns, enthusiasm and experiences. Presentations included a short paper on deep ecology and on the main themes of a book being compiled on Bahá’í perspectives of agriculture.

Bahá’í Institute for the Arts: The Arts SIG session included presentations on dance, video, poetry and visual art. Short fiction by Robbie Sethi was read, and artists reported on work featured at the conference, particularly the musical Táhirih performed Sunday night to an enthusiastic reception. In addition, there were presentations on Native American spirituality through music, a reading and discussion of Kurt Asplund's play A Thunderous Dawn, and talks on "State of the Arts—the Problems of Artists in Advancing Bahá’í Culture" and "Managing the Arts with Propriety."

Bahá’í Language Educators: More than 30 language educators gathered to establish the Bahá’í Language Educators SIG. They discussed how the SIG could contribute to Bahá’í-inspired curriculum design and skill-specific pedagogical activities, mentoring new teachers, assisting with job searches, and advising publishers of teaching and academic material. The afternoon session consisted of formal presentations, along with roundtables on "Designing and Delivering Bahá’í-Inspired Language Teaching Material and Activities" and "Mentoring the Bahá’í Language Teacher" and discussion of on-demand publishing.

Business and Economics: This session, organized by the Bahá’í Business Forum of the Americas, featured a workshop on "Servant Leadership" by Bijan Zayer and a forum on "Applying Spiritual Principles to All Organizations." Tannaz Grant discussed "Creating a Standard of Business Ethics"; Samuel Dubois explored "Local Exchange and Transfer System"; and Donna Pickel offered insights on "Applying Spiritual Principles to Project Management."

Consultation and Conflict Resolution: Discussion and workshop presentations by John Kolstoe, Randie Gottlieb, Robert Wilson and Trip Barthel focused on using consultative principles in non-Bahá’í settings and bringing compatible processes into Bahá’í consultation.

Education: The Education SIG program included a panel of students from Maxwell International Bahá’í School on their experiences. The session keynote was a lively presentation by Dwight Allen on teaching children to be both good and smart. Garrett Brisdon, Maxwell's principal, reflected on the philosophy of education. A father/son presentation by Dwight and Douglas Allen examined business and academic approaches to education from a Bahá’í perspective. In "A Proper Education," Anne Breneman approached educational issues from sociological and anthropological viewpoints. Small-group consultations resulted in a rich variety of recommendations on transformation, action, curriculum, practices of a "proper education," and the role of Bahá’í parents, teachers and students.

Marriage and Family: "Preparation for a Bahá’í Marriage" was the theme. Presenters Keyvan Geula, Mary K Radpour and Paul Friedman focused on the distinctive and spiritual nature of Bahá’í marriage as a fortress for well-being and salvation as a social and moral act as opposed to simply meeting individual needs. The discussion of romantic love and its overrated nature in the Western marital contract was also an intriguing area of discussion. The discussion of the need to be authentic with each other in our community lives and to learn the art of creating a "village" to support our families and children met with great appreciation and agreement.

Racial Unity/Intercultural Issues: This session addressed the disparities in performance between ethnic groups on standardized tests (Scott Phelps), racism in the education and justice systems (Jan Saeed), applying ethics and virtues to establish Bahá’í models of social intervention in Chicago's "Gap Project" (Derik Smith); the EMPIRE Program for multicultural education (Randie Gottlieb); avoiding the reproduction of unequal social relations in research (Tam Donnelly); and consultation on efforts to identify, analyze and propose solutions for the disparities that afflict racial and ethnic minorities in North America (Bonnie Taylor).

Science and Religion: The Science and Religion SIG featured several presentations and a panel in which discussion focused on the need to understand the coherent, highly interconnected philosophy of reality contained in the Bahá’í writings. The current interest in developing courses on science and religion was cited, and NASA scientist Kelly Snook spoke about her "BASIC" program to help students integrate and correlate the Bahá’í teachings with their academic studies. The need for Bahá’ís to develop and articulate a clear position on current issues in bioethics and other contemporary aspects of the relationship between science and religion was also a focus of interest.

Study of Religion: The six talks at the Study of Religion SIG meeting all drew overflow crowds. Ron Hershel described his experience teaching a non-credit course for several years. Christopher Gilbert explored parallels between the four personalities described in Four Valleys and personality types recognized by psychology. James Desson compared the concepts of soul, mind and heart from Judaism to the Bahá’í Faith. Gerri Graber drew parallels between the teachings of a 20th-century Catholic theologian and the Faith. Michael Sours Rohani traced the theme of wisdom to ancient Judaism and Neo-Platonism. [Page 20]

Pros perform

This year’s arts program at the Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies featured an unprecedented number of professional musicians and vocalists.

An art display during the conference offered attendees a chance to view paintings by Bahá’í artists such as Mark Tobey. Master classes by Karen Oleson and Tim Strong further enriched the artistic component of the conference.

At the opening plenary session, the audience was greeted by meditative piano music. Each morning’s plenary began with devotions that featured a choral ensemble, organized by Gretchen Hewitt and conducted by Kathy Tahiri, lifting the spirits on wings of melodious prayer.

On Friday evening attendees were treated to an exciting jazz concert featuring pianist Burt Bell and vocalist Karen Oleson, joined by Brett Wartchow (bass guitar), John Boucher (drums) and Peter Terry (vocalist).

At the gala concert on Saturday evening, internationally renowned bass-baritone Norman Bailey sang a recital of numbers from the Western classical repertoire—including songs by Sibelius, Head, Mussorgsky and the much-loved Charles Wolcott—accompanied by pianist Tim Strong.

Groups of vocal offerings were interspersed with solo viola, solo piano and viola and piano compositions, by Bach, Bloch, Chopin and Ravel. The violist was Wesley Dyring of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

The second half of the gala promised a concert of Persian classical music. Vocalist Ghazal Ighani was compelled to shorten her presentation of classical Persian songs because of laryngitis, but the audience was treated to a fine program nonetheless, including her band of artful instrumentalists.

Sunday morning violinist Farzad Khozein presented a thrilling display of virtuosity, and in the evening the conference was treated to the world premiere of the musical play Táhirih with music by Mimi McClellan and words by Mimi McClellan with Marzieh Gail (who had translated some of Táhirih’s poetry for inclusion).

At the closing plenary on Monday morning, Honour All Nations Drum and Dance Group from Lake Cowichan, Canada, performed, and the choral ensemble sang and chanted pieces representing the Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Bábí and Bahá’í Dispensations.

In a particularly moving finale, the drum group, the choral ensemble, and the entire audience joined in singing a Native rendition of “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá,” bringing this memorable conference to an inspiring conclusion. ◆

Gregory Paul Meyjes sings a poem by Táhirih before the performance of the musical play Táhirih. Photos by Michael Frank

Youths active

A large number of youth and college students actively participated in this year’s conference as presenters, performing artists and volunteers.

Jesse Fish, coordinator of the Office of Youth Affairs at the National Bahá’í Center, and a member of the University of Washington Bahá’í Student Association, gave a presentation on the club’s efforts to establish a Bahá’í Studies program at the university.

Semple also met with the youth, answering their questions and encouraging them never to be afraid to ask questions.

In his closing remarks at the final session of the conference, the Universal House of Justice member noted that “this period has particular significance. There has been a strengthening of the fabric of the Administration of the Faith, in the work of the Counselors and in the understanding of the believers.”

The growth of the Association for Bahá’í Studies plays a very important role in the work of the Bahá’í community, he noted: “As the House of Justice has said, we should all be scholars. ABS should understand that it is a very valuable element in the growth of the Bahá’í Faith.” ◆

Breakouts: variations on theme

Simultaneous breakout sessions explored many different facets of the conference theme.

Presenters explored the relationship between art and religion, developing creative faculty, the symbolism of Bahá’í buildings and shrines, and the building of the Arc on Mount Carmel.

Social and economic development was the topic of presentations that explored its role in the transformation of both developing and developed societies, as well as agricultural trade, and mental health and well-being in the Bahá’í community.

Aspects of Administrative Order that were considered included the unique design of the Bahá’í Administrative Order, the role of systematization in the development of spiritual civilization, and the contribution of the Ridván messages as well as the salvational purpose of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, expectations of the Lesser Peace, and the commonwealth of the future.

Presenters also offered insights into the symbolism of the feminine and the soul of the World Order, and the life of an early African-American female physician.

Harvard student Nava Ashraf gives a breakout presentation on agricultural development and rural trade.

Native perspectives and contributions to spiritual civilization were explored in presentations on justice, American Indians and the Bahá’í Faith, and the connections between “sacred site” and “sacred song.”

Other presentations investigated scientific paradigms, consciousness, the psyche, the dynamics of moral authenticity, spiritual psychology and the “culture of adversarialism” pervading politics, the economy, and the legal system.

Paul Lample, coordinator of the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá’í World Center, presented on “Translating the Word into Reality.”

He pointed out that most of human reality is social, not physical, and is constructed by social agreement and carried out through the vehicle of language.

“The Kingdom is a social reality structured on the Will of God,” he said.

Translation of poetry was the main topic at the second Roundtable Discussion on Persian and Arabic Translation, and once again this year the Association for Bahá’í Studies in Persian hosted an afternoon of presentations in Persian.

At a session introducing the book Logos and Civilization: Spirit, History and Order in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Rebequa Murphy stressed the importance of such works in the defense of the Faith.

Workshops at the conference offered sessions examining beliefs about technology, leadership in the Bahá’í community, belief and culture in development, and the use and misuse of logic and persuasion. ◆

Conference comments

Many who have watched the recent evolution of the ABS annual conference say it is moving to ever-higher levels of excellence. “The conference has become somewhat of a new creation in the last couple years,” said Safa Sadeghpour, a Harvard Medical School student. Amrollah Hemmat of Tampa, Florida, remarked: “The quality of the performances and presentations is improving year by year. ... My better half (Norma) and our daughter Michelle also enjoyed this conference a lot. ... Michelle says she is going to every year now.” Many presentations given at the conference will be published in The Journal of Bahá’í Studies, which is sent to all ABS members. To join the Association for Bahá’í Studies or to order videotapes/audio CDs of conference plenary talks, visit www.bahai-studies.ca or call the ABS office at 613-233-1903.

More Bahá’í studies: calls for papers

California regional conference

The California Regional Committee of the Association for Bahá’í Studies will host a regional conference April 13–14, 2002, at the University of California, Berkeley, in the theme “Forging a Spiritual Civilization: Developing Communities within a New Global Ethic.” The conference will focus on the challenge of creating spiritually and economically healthy communities that are viable and sustainable within a global context.

The committee welcomes paper presentations, workshops, music, art, poetry, drama and dance that address the conference theme.

Those interested should submit either a 250-word abstract or workshop proposal, or a video/audio tape of performance to the committee secretary, Stephen Friberg, (phone/fax 650-321-2287, e-mail sfriberg@earthlink.net) no later than March 1, 2002.

‘Irfán Colloquia

‘Irfán Colloquia at Bosch Bahá’í School in 2002 will be held May 23–26. The program, in Persian and English, will focus on the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh during the ‘Akká period.

For offering to make presentations at those sessions please contact ‘Irfán Colloquium, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3501, fax 847-733-3502, e-mail irfancol@usbnc.org). ◆ [Page 21]

Green Lake arms conference-goers for Plan victories

BY HOWARD HINTERTHUER

Attendees at the 42nd Annual Green Lake Conference, Aug. 24-26, faced capricious weather, celebrated victories won, and armed themselves to carry out the Five Year Plan. Despite intermittent thundershowers and drizzle the first two days, the nearly 1,000 undaunted participants enjoyed each other while marveling at recent accomplishments throughout the Bahá’í world.

Highlights of the conference, referred to as “a family reunion” by Paul Jacobi, a member of the sponsoring Regional Bahá’í Council for the Central States, included:

• Stories about the projects on Mount Carmel by Fariborz Sahba, project manager and Terraces architect.
• The honoring of Caswell Ellis, who had announced his retirement from the Regional Council.
• Insights by Steve Gonzales, a lawyer and judge, about the role and spiritual heritage of U.S. Bahá’ís.
• Energetic interactions among youth and adults.
• Presentations by former Counselor Tod Ewing and his brother, actor Geoffrey Ewing.

Jacobi welcomed participants, noting the event is “the longest-running, most successful conference in the 12 Central States. My wife Ellie and I started dating at the conference in 1973.”

Mount Carmel glimpses

For two nights, Sahba shared stories of the massive 14-year effort to complete the newest structures on the Arc while simultaneously reconfiguring the contours of the mountain and relocating streets and infrastructure within Haifa.

“The dedication of the Arc (May 22-25) was a triumph of love over hate, light over darkness,” Sahba said. “I feel that the light of the world that disappeared with the execution of the Báb returned with this event.”

Said Sahba, “At one time a visiting architect remarked, ‘It isn’t logical to open a project on so many fronts simultaneously.’ I told him, ‘Nothing the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ do is logical.’”

Sahba cited several impediments to progress during the projects. “We had to change the main town planning of the city, and when three of our contractors went bankrupt, we had to become contractors.”

“The most important miracle,” Sahba said, “was the House of Justice’s decision to do the Arc and the Terraces together. It made it look like a public project.” As a result, he said, local and national officials—and the public in general—began to think of the projects as their own. The contractors all seemed to buy into the effort, recognize its spiritual import, and go out of their way to meet deadlines.

“The more challenge we choose, the more blessings we get,” said Sahba.

Following his first address, the video Not Even a Lamp by Badiyan Productions movingly told the story of how His Holiness the Báb was denied even a lamp while imprisoned. Today, the Shrine of the Báb and supporting terraces are filled with light, night and day.

“Mr. Sahba told a really serious story, but made it fun,” said Natja Pamenter, 14, of Cascade, Wisconsin. “I’ve been hearing about the Arc projects my entire lifetime. It makes me happy to see the projects completed. It shows the Bahá’ís can do just about anything.”

Council tribute

The RBC and the Green Lake committee joined in honoring Ellis, who ‎retirement retiring‎ from the Council “hit us like a thunderbolt,” Jacobi said. “Elected to the Regional Council at its formation in 1997, Caswell has served as its chair ever since, while simultaneously serving as House of Worship director. We want to publicly pay tribute to him.”

Lori Block of the Green Lake organizing committee pointed out, “Caswell was on the Green Lake Committee prior to the RBC. We still consider him part of the Green Lake team.”

After receiving a standing ovation, Ellis said, “Your Council is now an established institution, facing tremendous challenges during the next five years. It needs your prayers and support. ... Thank you for your expressions of gratitude to me and to your Council.”

Ellis’ seat on the RBC will be filled by Lisa Smits of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who received the next highest vote tally in the latest election.

U.S. spiritual heritage

Gonzales’ address focused on the U.S. Bahá’ís’ spiritual heritage of leadership.

“How can we serve the world without being contaminated by it? The Bahá’í community needs to look outward toward the greater world and find ways to turn our beliefs into action,” he said.

Gonzales cited qualities that permeate American culture—lofty ideals, heroism, elimination of tyranny, a welcoming attitude toward refugees, and leadership in difficult times. He pointed out that Bahá’ís bring clarity of vision, steadfastness, and a spirit of servitude, and that Shoghi Effendi called the American Bahá’ís the chief executors of the Divine Plan.

The judge asked attendees to overcome any tendency to be divided, to set a spiritual example for others, to apply appropriate remedies to ills facing our country, to stay true to the Covenant, to turn to prayer and the House of Justice, and to learn to balance and reconcile Bahá’í principles.

Presence of youth

Empowered youth were everywhere throughout the weekend. Said Claire Smith of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, “The fire walk was a great opener. There were luminarias [candle lanterns] lighting the path to the fire pit. When we got there, people talked about where they were as Bahá’ís—what brought them there. ... It was great sitting together, understanding we all have the same purpose.”

“My wife Hansa and I have never seen such an intense positive outpouring of spiritual communication between youth and parents, on such a vast scale,” said Gary Kerns, a recently returned pioneer, after viewing the youth presentation Sunday morning.

“Dr. (Joy) Leary mentioned that the youth at that discussion are the cream of the crop of our society. If they are showing the need for parents to reach out to them on such an intense level, what must be the intensity of feeling of non-Bahá’í youth?”

During his presentation, Tod Ewing spoke to that point. “The concept of encouragement needs to be part of this plan—encouraging each other. ... We are literally interconnected with every other human being on the planet. What we do has implications for others. When we make sacrifices, it may not show up in our community, but it may have an impact elsewhere.”

Artistic inspiration

The Green Lake crowd was also treated to a performance by Geoffrey Ewing, a New York City-based actor, writer and producer best known for his award-winning, off-Broadway play Ali, based on the life of Muhammad Ali. Now adapted into a fireside format, Ewing’s presentation focuses on Ali’s lifelong spiritual transformation.

Other entertainments were provided by Tim, Dalian and Jong May Urbonya, who performed a variety of musical selections in English and Chinese, helped by Jacob and Jane Myers of Madison, Wisconsin. ◆

“I feel that the light of the world that disappeared with the execution of the Báb returned with this event.” —Fariborz Sahba, Terraces architect, referring to the opening of the gardens

“Speak Your Mind,” a youth panel, was an emotional highlight of the Green Lake Bahá’í Conference. Photo by Russ Vestlie

Mary Wilder (left) and Galynne ‎Goowill Goodwill‎ (seated right) consort with a coterie of future world leaders at the 3- to 4-year-old children’s class at Green Lake. Photo by Howard Hinterthuer

Talks by Joy Leary (left), on “Embracing a Life of Courage and Sacrifice,” and Tod Ewing, on “Moving Towards Oneness,” were key events at Green Lake. Photos by Russ Vestlie

Pre-register now for the 2002 Green Lake Bahá’í Conference, Green Lake, Wisconsin, Aug. 23–25, 2002. On-site housing is limited; call 800-558-8898 for housing and pre-registration. Visit the conference Web site (www.GreenLakeBahaiConference.org) to see video and audio highlights of the 2001 conference and keep informed about the 2002 program.

[Page 22]Quick resettlement facts about Iranian Bahá’í influx

What can I do to help? Experience shows that if the Bahá’í community immediately contacts newly arrived Persian Bahá’ís, they establish close ties to the community. They feel the love and care of Bahá’í institutions and are more inclined to become productive community members.

New arrivals who are left to themselves the first few months after their arrival become overwhelmed with such activities as learning skills, gaining an education and/or earning money. They may easily become isolated from the U.S. Bahá’í community or feel disconnected from its goals.

The Local Spiritual Assembly can help the new arrivals fill out a Persian Questionnaire, which is the first step in officially transferring their membership into the U.S. Bahá’í community. It also allows the national Bahá’í offices to send them a welcome packet and offer their assistance and services to them.

How many have arrived recently? 1,550 Persian believers went through a formal process of transferring into the American Bahá’í community from January 2000 through September 2001.

The breakdown of where they have settled: Western States, 582; Southern States, 639; Central States, 151; Northeastern States, 76.

Los Angeles leads with 87 newly arrived Iranians, followed by Houston with 43. Phoenix and Atlanta are among cities with a significant influx.

How many more await resettlement? Another 2,000 wait in 13 Turkish border towns for permission to enter the United States or some other country. Some 1,200 of them have been introduced as Bahá’ís by the friends in Iran. About 33 Iranian Bahá’í refugees are in Austria awaiting resettlement.

Should Bahá’ís leave Iran? The Universal House of Justice encourages the friends to try to stay in Iran if they can; however, the Supreme Body has said that any person who decides to leave Iran for any reason is free to do so. The Universal House of Justice has asked that the friends refrain from encouraging others to leave Iran, as this only makes it more difficult for those who remain to be steadfast.

After a Bahá’í leaves Iran, that person’s recognition as a refugee by the United Nations triggers the next step—selecting their new home. Any ties to a place, through relatives or sponsors, are a plus: The refugee is likely to adapt faster in that environment.

What role does USBRO play? As directed by the Universal House of Justice, the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office (USBRO) does not intervene in the friends’ personal resettlement arrangements. USBRO verifies the Bahá’í credentials of those coming through the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). People who come through HIAS must prove that they were registered Bahá’ís while they lived in Iran; otherwise, they will be deported back to that country.

For the first year after their arrival, USBRO is available to answer questions about refugees. It is also involved in education about refugee issues. ◆

Key to aiding refugees is love

BY U.S. BAHÁ’Í REFUGEE OFFICE

Imagine arriving here today from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

For 20 years you’ve been without local and national Bahá’í institutions. You’ve seen your children deprived of a college education.

You’ve been denied the opportunity to work.

You’ve had your family home and properties taken from you.

Many of the latest Bahá’í arrivals from the cradle of the Faith have spent the majority of their lives under these conditions. When they arrive in the United States, our Bahá’í communities must strive to be sensitive to their spiritual and emotional needs.

At the recent national Conference of the Friends of Persian Culture, nine Persian youths—some of them children of martyrs—shared their impressions of life as Bahá’í youth in Iran, and then, their first encounters with the American Bahá’í community.

They all acknowledged the difficulties they faced in Iran, but also expressed how they felt that their souls became polished like fine gems through experiencing hardships. They spoke about the pivotal role that the love and support of their Bahá’í communities had played in shaping their characters. In Iran, they said, the entire Bahá’í community was their family. They felt close to each fellow Bahá’í.

They had high expectations about receiving the same kind of love and friendship from the American friends. All said they were welcomed after they arrived, but still felt thirsty for personal companionship and loving friendship.

As a community, we must strive to make these precious souls truly feel as if their Bahá’í mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters are welcoming them into their new homes.

Many forms of help

The answer, though, is not to feel obligated to provide for the newcomers’ every perceived need. Bahá’ís aiding newly arrived Iranians can give federally contracted refugee agencies room to do their job, while picking up the slack, to the extent possible, by systematically providing spiritual and social support as suggested in the National Spiritual Assembly’s letter to all Local Spiritual Assemblies dated Jan. 16, 2001.

Help can take many forms, including individual acts of kindness, either spontaneous or coordinated by an Assembly or task force. As noted in the Jan. 16 letter, while newly arrived friends should not have the expectation that Bahá’í institutions will assist them financially, Bahá’í individuals and institutions may do so if they choose, in a manner and to the degree that the host community feels comfortable with. In no way does the National Spiritual Assembly forbid such assistance.

Several communities have found that by establishing a “buddy system” orientation program for newly arrived refugees, they can make the most of their human and material resources. In the buddy program, as soon as a new family or individual arrives, they are assigned to one volunteer community member or family.

The “buddy” family commits to keeping in regular contact with the new family, and helping its members adjust to their new environment. The formal commitment lasts only three to six months, but most families discover that by then, they have become lifelong cherished friends.

The key is empowering the newcomers to become self-confident in their new surroundings. Taking them to the driver’s license test facility enables their mobility. Encouraging and assisting them to attend deepening classes increases their knowledge of the Writings and nourishes their spirits. Helping them to enroll in English classes, readily available to all refugees, puts the newcomers closer to employment and full participation in the Bahá’í community.

“Refugees don’t need hand-me-downs to feel good,” says Puran Stevens, director of the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office. “They need respect. We must extend a hand of love and friendship to them. We should try to help them establish a lasting bond of friendship with their Bahá’í communities and institutions.”

Loving and supportive offers of friendship from the Bahá’í community are especially needed now by newly arrived Persian refugees, who may unfortunately find themselves subjected to the prejudice directed against Middle Easterners after the Sept. 11 tragedy. ◆

Children and youths discuss what they lost during their experience as refugees, at the World Refugee Day program on Ellis Island. Photos courtesy of USBRO

Bahá’í Refugee Office present at ceremony promoting respect

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office was represented at an Ellis Island ceremony June 20 for World Refugee Day, promoting respect for refugees around the world.

The ceremony recognized the sacrifices and suffering of the world’s refugees, their resourceful ability to overcome extreme hardship, and their ongoing positive contributions to society. While there, Puran Stevens of the USBRO spoke with Sadako Ogata, former United Nations high commissioner for refugees.

USBRO Director Puran Stevens (left) with Sadako Ogata, former UN high commissioner for refugees.

Ambassador Betty King, U.S. representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, addressed the crowd, emphasizing that “protecting refugees and conflict victims is a shared international responsibility.” She noted that “the United States is a leading contributor of humanitarian assistance to refugees and conflict victims.”

Well-known refugees in the United States have included Albert Einstein, Gloria Estefan, and former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and ‎Madeline Madeleine‎ Albright.

Stevens said refugees to our shores contribute to society by sharing their culture and traditions, working to make better lives for themselves and family, and furthering the education of their children.

Last year more than 72,000 refugees from all over the planet and from many different religions resettled in the United States. ◆ [Page 23]

Scouting emblem program fosters world citizens

Unity of Mankind award can be earned by Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts at several levels

BY EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

applying the PLAN: Enhancing the range of children’s and youth activities

It was a joyous day when the National Education and Schools Office received the declaration card of a Brownie leader whose interest in the Faith had been heightened through its mention in the Girl Scout handbook.

Donna Lawton-Royce had contacted the Bahá’í National Center for information about the Faith and its “Unity of Mankind” emblem Scouting Program, then shared what she learned with the children in her troop.

She also corresponded by e-mail with Bahá’ís she had contacted through the Education and Schools Office.

A few months later, she sent in her declaration card because the closest ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ were more than 100 miles away.

At the same time in a small town near the Canadian border, two high school girls found out about the Faith from their Girl Scout manual.

The girls contacted the National Bahá’í Offices and were connected with two isolated believers in their community.

A series of Unity of Mankind class sessions was set up immediately.

Available to all in Scouting

The Bahá’í Faith’s Scouting Program, available to Girl and Boy Scout program participants of all ages, is designed to help young people realize their potential as citizens of the world.

It is available both for Scouts who are members of the Bahá’í Faith and for those interested in learning more about the Faith.

It also is an incredible teaching tool.

Specific requirements are set out in the manual for each Scouting age level, organized around three main areas of investigation: Unity and the Individual, Unity and the Family and Unity and Humanity.

Each area is broken down into the central principles of the Bahá’í Faith: Oneness of God, Oneness of Religion and Oneness of Mankind (Race/Gender).

Increasingly, young believers are receiving their Unity of Mankind awards in formal ceremonies either during Feast or during the Scout troop’s formal awards presentation.

A proud moment

Steven Miller wears his newly bestowed Unity of Mankind emblem at the Feast where the award ceremony was held.

Steven Miller received his Scouting award at a recent Nineteen Day Feast in Oceana, Michigan.

“Everyone was impressed with the beauty of the emblem and, of course, the work Steven did to get it,” said Annette Toulemon, Bahá’í School teacher and friend.

Toulemon, of Hart, Michigan, served as Steven’s counselor as well as his Bahá’í School teacher during the months he worked on this program.

Upon moving to Michigan from California a few years ago, she had helped establish Bahá’í School in her new community. Working with Scouts was just part of the process.

“Steven did the work for the emblem under the direction of his mother,” said Toulemon. “As a young Bahá’í who was also a Cub Scout, he found out about the Unity of Mankind emblem program from his Scouting manual and was encouraged to work on this project by his den mother as well.

“It was just so exciting,” said Toulemon, remembering her reaction when she saw that the Bahá’í Faith was represented in the Scout book.

“We’re so pleased that the National Spiritual Assembly has [become] affiliated with other organizations, and this serves to keep our children connected to the Faith and to each other.”

She explained that the children in her community, and many others like hers, are quite isolated.

“Such connections are very important for our children, because they just don’t see many other Bahá’ís,” she noted.

Steven’s mother said the eight boys in his den often shared what they had learned or done.

“When they did the prayers, each of the boys listened to what the other had memorized, and they worked on other activities together,” she explained. “This turns out to be a good teaching tool as well.”

Saying the noonday prayer by memory at the Feast in which the emblem ceremony occurred, Steven also received a color certificate signed by National Assembly Secretary General Robert C. Henderson. The framed certificate now hangs in the bedroom he shares with his little brother.

“My scoutmaster was really proud of me for earning this emblem,” said Steven on the phone recently.

“I learned prayers and we carried cans of food to the Good Samaritan Shelter. We were also kind to others.”

A Webelo’s accomplishments

Another young Scout who completed the program is Samuel Stephenson, a 10-year-old Webelo Cub Scout from Oregon.

Like Steven, he learned prayers and passages from the Bahá’í writings, did art projects and performed service projects with his family and for his community.

Samuel met formally with the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Tillamook County, Oregon.

Bill Harford, his counselor, spoke to the Assembly about the young man’s accomplishments.

During that meeting Samuel recited from memory the essential principles of the Bahá’í Faith and quoted a passage about the power of the love of God that makes all of us as the waves of one sea and the flowers of one garden.

As did Steven, Samuel memorized the short obligatory prayer. He also made a Unity of Mankind poster about racism.

He had read an article in the community paper about a sit-in at the local high school by an African-American student who left school because he had been worried about his safety.

Samuel felt that a poster could help because it agreed with the central theme of the sit-in, which was that education is the key to increased awareness and healing of racism. ♦

Development of young people’s program is a great example of collaboration

The Unity of Mankind program for Scouts is now administered by the National Education and Schools Office. An update of the Unity of Mankind manual was completed two years ago. The 80-page guide, designed with individual sections for each age and Scouting group, can be downloaded from the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org) and printed. Click on “NSA Departments,” then “Education and Schools Office” and, within that area, “Scouting Program.” Also, copies are being distributed for $8 each through the Education and Schools Office (phone 847-733-3492, e-mail __________ ).

Young Cub Scouts, Brownies, Boy and Girl Scouts have been working toward the Unity of Mankind Scouting emblem since 1984.

That’s when a group of caring parents designed the program to teach young people about the Bahá’í Faith.

“It’s a tough program,” said Tim Tyson of Huntsville, Alabama, one of its creators.

“We felt that it had to be a comprehensive program that was aligned with what was expected in the comparable badge programs. And it certainly is comparable, but it’s not easy—it’s worthwhile,” said Tyson, now the coordinator of the National Teaching Committee’s media campaign.

He remembers back to a 1984 meeting when he and J.B. “Butch” Fuller Jr. (now of the Birmingham area) were serving as assistants to Auxiliary Board member Ben Levy of Lake Mary, Florida.

“Butch and I were consulting on ways to expand involvement in our community’s teaching activities,” said Tyson. “Butch and his three sons were quite involved in Scouting, and I remember him pointing out that the other religions had a badge the young boys could earn.

“At that moment Ben challenged the two of us to put a program together, and really he helped us stay focused on producing the program in the shortest time possible,” Tyson recalls.

“It was a great collaboration of agencies and institutions working together to fill a void: an Auxiliary Board-initiated activity, developed at the local level, worked through the National Teaching Office at that time, and then relying on the Office of External Affairs to help coordinate the adoption of the program by the Boy Scouts of America after the program was approved by the National Spiritual Assembly.”

The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America adopted the Unity of Mankind award in a ceremony in Washington, DC. The Girl Scouts of the USA adopted the program not long after.

“Having this program puts the Bahá’í Faith on equal footing with the other faiths that are represented in Scouting,” said Fuller.

He points out that millions of Scouting manuals have been published mentioning the Faith since the inception of the Unity of Mankind program.

Fuller would like to see a next step taken—that of developing a recognition program for adult Scout leaders, as is done by the other faiths.

“To me it is a real deficiency, for we certainly should have some formal recognition process,” he said in offering to field offers of assistance.

Those who would like to see this program developed are encouraged to contact Fuller at (phone _________ ). ♦ [Page 24]

Bosch Bahá’í School

500 Comstock Lane · Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-3387 www.bosch.org

The power of love

One hundred thirty people experienced the power of love during a weekend of spiritual transformation, Aug. 24–26 at Bosch Bahá’í School.

“The Power of Love in your Personal, Family, and Community Life,” facilitated by Dan Popov and Linda Kavelin-Popov, authors of The Family Virtues Guide, took participants through an interactive journey exploring the theme of the captivating and transforming qualities of love.

Exercises and activities concentrated on fundamental virtues such as love, joy and unity. During an interactive session the participants asked each other what “joy” means to them and “What brings you joy?” They spent their time acquiring the skills to apply the virtues to everyday situations. As a result, the session helped recharge the participants’ spiritual batteries in a brief two days.

Many participants said they longed for an extended weekend because of the joy they experienced during the session. One friend remarked that her husband was not a Bahá’í, but after the wonderful session, both of them will work together back home. Another participant remarked, “Now I have the tools to clean up my act and then help others.” The most exciting aspect of the session was the spirit the participants took back to their homes, as one excited friend stated, “I can’t wait to go home and shake!”

The thrill of discovering the reality of unconditional love paralleled with an enriching focus on building spiritually healthy relationships deeply affected the life of a new believer, as she explained to a friend in San Francisco, “ ‘The Power of Love’ has changed my life forever.”

Many more friends will have an opportunity to receive the same joy and feel the same vitalizing spirit in future sessions.

Upcoming session

Dec. 26–30: “Comparative Religion” with Dann May and Habib Riazati; “Mediation and Conflict Resolution” with Phyllis Bernard. While the nations of the world celebrate the New Year, Bosch will be welcoming friends for this exciting dual-topic Winter Session.

“Comparative Religion” will take participants through an exploration of the relationship of the Bahá’í Faith to other religions.

Concurrently, “Mediation and Conflict Resolution” will set out vital skills for resolving conflicts in all walks of life and will present effective methods of meditation. ◆

Complete list of upcoming Bosch programs on Calendar, back page

Commitment to education

Jake Jacobs (left) and Mahvash Rezvani listen as Jennifer Head offers ideas on incorporating the arts in teaching of children, during the

Local Bahá’í Schools Conference in Seattle, Washington. People involved in Bahá’í schools across the state gathered in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy with a renewed sense of commitment and dedication to the education of all God’s children; the conference theme was “All God’s Children: Our Sacred Obligation … ushering them to the banquet table of the Lord of Hosts!” Much time was given to consultation on effective and systematic means to open Bahá’í schools even more to the world’s children. Seventy-one participants representing 34 communities and 12 of the 21 Bahá’í schools in Washington shared inspiration, love and success stories during this one-day conference.

Louhelen Bahá’í School

3208 S. State Road · Davison, MI 48423 810-653-5033 www.louhelen.org

Spiritual parenting

BY LIZ DONALDSON

In its letter of Ridván 2000, the Universal House of Justice issued an urgent appeal on behalf of Bahá’í children, noting, “Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future.”

The Supreme Body further appealed to parents “to give constant attention to the spiritual education of their children.”

This clarion call for concern for the interests and needs of children has stimulated action among Bahá’ís worldwide, as the House of Justice noted with satisfaction in its Ridván 2001 letter.

The Bahá’í community’s increasing focus on nurturing children was apparent in the enthusiasm of participants in the Spiritual Parenting session held Aug. 10–15 at Louhelen Bahá’í School.

That session was one of a regular, year-round series of Spiritual Parenting trainings held at Louhelen to support parents in their efforts to raise spiritually healthy and happy children who are strong and active Bahá’ís.

“I’m usually not a workshop kind of person, but this was great,” said Shahin Fallah, one of 43 people at the August program.

He noticed immediate benefits from the course and recommends it to others. “We had wonderful instructors and a great group [of participants],” he said.

The basis of this well-received course is the National Teacher Training Center’s parent facilitator curriculum, one of six programs in the Core Curriculum for Spiritual Education.

As with other Core Curriculum courses, Spiritual Parenting doesn’t need to be taken at Louhelen. Local communities may host sessions with trained facilitators arranged through the National Teacher Training Center (NTTC).

“The parenting workshops have received high marks from participants, who include parents who are Bahá’ís as well as others who are close to the Faith,” said Dan Darling, NTTC outreach coordinator. “People interested in bringing these workshops to their communities can contact the NTTC for help in locating a trained facilitator in their area.”

If trained facilitators are unavailable in a particular area, people may seek training for this service. The next training for such facilitators is a split two-weekend session at Louhelen in 2002: Feb. 8–11 and May 17–19.

Besides Parenting, the NTTC offers courses in Core Curriculum teacher training, Marriage and Family Life workshops, Race Unity training, Equality training and Youth Empowerment training. These are all two-part courses, consisting of a 3-day plus a 2-day session. All courses are offered at least twice per year.

If you are interested in any of these valuable paths of service, please contact the NTTC (phone 810 653-5033, e-mail ).

Summer school in the fresh air

Children at Four Corners Bahá’í School in New Mexico gather around Alberto Cardeña of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, who helps them make kites. The July summer school annually draws a diverse group of students from several states. Photo by Carole Hitti

Other upcoming sessions

Nov. 9–11: “Following the Century of Light: Implications for the Five Year Plan” with Counselor Rebequa Murphy and Marshall Murphy. Features a full spiritual education program for children.

Nov. 15–18: “Unfolding the Potential Within,” the third annual conference of the Bahá’í Association of Mental Health Professionals. “The Authenticity Project” immediately follows this session until Nov. 20. Project founder Dr. William Hatcher will lead this session, focusing on this groundbreaking approach to the development of authentic human relationships.

Dec. 7–9: “Expressing Creativity through the Writer’s Art,” led by Dr. Adrienne Ellis Reeves, will allow aspiring and practiced writers a chance to hone their craft and to see what the Bahá’í writings say about this topic. Participants should bring a 250-word writing sample on a topic of interest to them. ◆

Complete list of upcoming Louhelen programs on Calendar, back page [Page 25]

RETRIEVAL,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

is forwarded for follow-up. (Upon registering for or confirming participation in the seeker response program, communities tell us which 5-digit ZIP codes they would like to “claim.”)

A reminder e-mail will automatically be sent to the local seeker response representative every time a new seeker message is forwarded to the community’s Web page. The community is responsible for checking daily for messages from seekers in their area. Any seeker message unchecked within 3 days will automatically be forwarded to a state default page for follow-up.

How the community follows up

The local community then responds to the seeker, perhaps with a personalized letter with their local community’s contact information, invitations to local firesides, devotional gatherings, children’s classes, etc. The local community is also responsible for providing the seeker ‎newsletters newsletter‎ The Light of Unity when the seeker has specifically requested to receive it at the public Web site (www.us.bahai.org).

The newsletter can be downloaded from the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org) under “Media Campaign” and “Campaign Materials.” The newsletters can be adapted to reflect local events and news.

Seeker tracking system

After logging on to the new system, the community will then enter information on local follow-up and seeker progress in the Web site-provided tracking system. This new system of tracking through the Web site will assist you in your efforts to be systematic, and will also provide the Institutions of the Faith with valuable information on the response of local communities to seekers.

How your community can join

If your community is not already signed up with the new system, please:

• Consult with your Local Spiritual Assembly or registered group to assign someone who owns a computer to be responsible for retrieving your community’s seeker messages. Make sure it is someone with a warm, welcoming personality who can be counted on to check daily for messages.
• Establish your coverage area by researching what ZIP codes you wish to cover. You are encouraged to add ZIP codes that correspond to the coverage area of the dominant broadcast media in your locality. If the coverage area includes ZIP codes that are outside the jurisdiction of Bahá’í communities, institutions should consult on the appropriate assignment.
• If you need help determining ZIP codes, contact your local post office for a listing or try the United States Postal Service Web site (www.usps.gov) or ZIPfind Central (www.zipfind.net).
• If your community has a voice-mail box with the old system, you must have reliable Internet access and confirm your participation in the new system by registering on the Web (www.research.net/22unite).
• For more information, please e-mail us ( ). ♦

A different type of ‘learning’ circle

Robert A. Speirs stands among his concrete sculptures of children of all races in attitudes of study, which stand in front of Idyllwild Elementary School in Sanford, Florida, a school with a highly diverse student body where Speirs teaches gifted and talented students. Children often sit with the concrete “children” and read. “The sculpture has become a centerpiece for the school,” the district’s assistant school superintendent has said. Other principals in the county have requested similar sculptures for their schools. Speirs, of Winter Springs, Florida, is working on a series of sculptures that show various principles of the Bahá’í Faith. Photo courtesy of Siggle S. Shaw III

Site has nearly 200 devotional programs

More than 190 devotional programs for Feasts, Holy Days, Unity Feasts or other public meetings are available for downloading from “The Companion—The Bahá’í Devotions Web Site,” maintained by the Spiritual Assembly of Dallas.

The programs can be downloaded in a variety of formats—Microsoft Publisher or Word or Adobe Acrobat—or simply viewed as Web pages.

They were collected not only from those used at the Sunday devotional meetings in Dallas, but also from the Unity Feasts held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Address for the Web site is www.bahaidevotions.org ♦

VIRTUOUS,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Sunday School, show an appealing Bahá’í community life to seekers.

The Bahá’ís are always seeking an opportunity to push forward. For instance, once the town hall and the senior center each were secured to house the school once per month, attention turned to advertising the classes.

Shem Bucovcan worked out a contract with the local cable TV company to air Bahá’í ads referring interested people to 1-800-22-UNITE. Since February, the spots have been shown 25 times a week, rotating on six cable channels that appeal to women. Community members chip in for the cost.

A weekly local newspaper, in addition, has begun to list the Sunday School in its calendar of religious activities.

The effort appears to have come full circle: Many of the communities’ contacts are not necessarily interested in the Sunday School but want to learn more about the Faith.

The response? Firesides, naturally—every month, featuring various artists.

Melinda Burgard recently shared a telling testimony from her 7-year-old daughter.

Simone was invited to a birthday party, but it turned out to be at the same time as Sunday School. Once the conflict surfaced, Simone immediately chose the latter.

Melinda, surprised, asked her again several times. Simone remained firm: I don’t want to miss Sunday School.

For more information on any aspect of this community development, contact Kathy Grammer (phone 845-469-9450).

Columbus, OH

Columbus Soul Miners has taken virtues training to the inner city.

Children from Connie Young’s East Side neighborhood near the Columbus Bahá’í Center are invited monthly to a “celebration” in her home.

Each event focuses on a person of African descent and the virtues that person exemplified.

In February, for instance, the Soul Miners children celebrated the 11th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the subsequent freedom of South Africa from apartheid.

The children discussed the virtues of fortitude and patience and the importance of race unity.

Discussion flowed into singing and dancing to songs from South Africa.

Finally, the children presented how they saw themselves practicing the virtues and how it would help the world, their nation, their community, their family or another individual.

Sometimes Young and her helpers—neighborhood adults along with area Bahá’ís—present the topic.

Other times a speaker is brought in: a police officer on trustworthiness and justice, or a city councilwoman on respect, patience and determination.

“We want the children to discover that they have the same virtues inside them that famous people do, and that they don’t have to wait until they’re grown to do great things,” said Young.

She said it has been wonderful to see the growth in participants. One girl acted and spoke rough at the beginning, but gradually changed her tone. Recently she wrote an essay about how she has applied the virtue of kindness in her life.

Through exposure to Bahá’ís, including members of a youth workshop, some of the children also have begun participating in Bahá’í events.

For most sessions, Soul Miners participants range in age from 5 to 10. Sometimes a topic will attract neighborhood teens.

And that’s not to mention the neighborhood’s elderly, who also have taken an interest.

“They come because they were deprived of that education [about accomplished African-Americans] when they were growing up,” said Young. “It creates a wonderful caring and giving environment for both generations.”

A professor of African-American and African Studies at Ohio State University also has taken notice, as have several schoolteachers, a church youth program and a day care center in the area, and they want to get involved.

Bahá’ís in other Columbus neighborhoods—and in the suburbs—are looking to replicate the 2-year-old program as well, tweaking it so the exemplars chosen reflect the demographics of the children.

Young has received much interest in the Soul Miners concept after presenting at two subregional Bahá’í conferences.

To spread the word, Young figures she’ll need some help. She is studying ways to gain 501(c)(3) status for the social and economic development project so it can attract grant money. ♦

For information on Soul Miners, please contact Connie Young, ________________________ (phone ________________, e-mail ________________). [Page 26]

• CLASSIFIED •

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial ads are accepted. Some of the opportunities have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the friends should exercise judgment and care in responding.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

If 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 BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER

EVANSTON/WILMETTE, IL

Program Coordinator I, Office of the Treasurer. Will organize weekend visit programs and coordinate annual National Treasurer’s Forum; manage, train and mentor financial consultants around the country who will assist local treasurers and Assemblies; design training materials and programs to complement Stewardship and Development manual; give presentations and workshops at Bahá’í schools and conferences; maintain database on local treasurers and relevant local activities; coordinate activities of the Annual Convention related to the Office of the Treasurer; answer letters and phone calls from individuals, Assemblies, and other agencies; distribute an electronic newsletter; assist with development and maintenance of Office of the Treasurer Web page and online training program for local treasurers and Assemblies.

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

Maintenance Team Leader, Properties. Will manage facility/building maintenance and engineering staff to provide timely services at minimal costs; plan, estimate, schedule maintenance requests and projects; ensure that all equipment and buildings are efficiently and effectively maintained. Needs 5 years’ experience in all areas of building maintenance (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, cleaning etc.) with 3–5 years as maintenance manager; valid driver’s license; supervisory command of English.

AT BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

FULTON COUNTY, GA

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

URGENT NEEDS

All positions full time unless otherwise noted.

Treasurer’s Office, Evanston, IL: Accountant (CPA skill level). Will work in fast-paced, complex environment with diverse accounting, financial and administrative responsibilities. Should have a strong background in auditing and either for-profit or not-for-profit activities. Minimum 10 years’ experience.

Meetings and Travel Office, Evanston, IL: Manager. Should know travel industry; Worldspan or other travel reservation system experience. Experienced in hospitality with strong organizational skills, good understanding of hotel business, site research, meeting room arrangements, food functions and accommodations. Vendor contract negotiations. Must be able to work under pressure and handle several tasks at the same time. Work schedule flexible; some weekend work required.

Meetings and Travel Office, Evanston, IL: Meetings/Travel Assistant. Will help make travel arrangements for National Spiritual Assembly agencies and Bahá’í National Center departments. One-week technical training will be provided. Will also help with clerical/telephone work and some bill reconciliation. Must be able to work well under pressure and time constraints. Will sometimes be called on to back up the Hospitality Assistant.

Meetings and Travel Office, Evanston, IL: Hospitality Assistant. Will promote loving, attentive, pleasing atmosphere for meetings of National Spiritual Assembly agencies and Bahá’í National Center departments. Will set up and close down meetings, pick up catering, shop and do light clerical work. Must be able to work well under pressure and time constraints. Must be able to lift and carry meeting supplies. A car is highly desired. Very flexible work schedule offered to accommodate various weekend meetings.

Bahá’í Distribution Service, Fulton County, GA: Business Office Manager. Will manage all aspects of Business Office activities: coordinate/communicate with BDS manager and buying office, Office of the Treasurer, other Bahá’í offices, authors, publishers, vendors and others nationally and internationally; supervise business office assistants. Minimum five years’ varied experience in accounting with a year’s management experience, extremely strong accounting skills through G/L; retail background a plus; fluency in Spanish or Persian along with English a plus; strong computer skills including QuickBooks and Excel. Must be highly motivated, problem solver, able to work independently.

Bahá’í Distribution Service, Fulton County, GA: Buyer. Helps ensure timely, economical availability of Bahá’í 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.

Kingdom Project/Treasurer’s Office, Evanston, IL: Administrative Assistant. Will maintain database of 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 or executive assistant.

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

URGENT NEED

DIRECTOR, NATIONAL OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION NEW YORK, NY

For a complete job description with responsibilities and qualifications: Visit www.usbnc.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.

AT BOSCH BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL

SANTA CRUZ, CA

Facilities Manager. Will manage facility/building maintenance and engineering staff to provide timely services at minimal costs; plan, estimate, schedule maintenance requests and projects; ensure that all equipment and buildings are efficiently and effectively maintained. Needs 5 years’ experience in all areas of building maintenance (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, cleaning etc.) with 3–5 years as maintenance manager; valid driver’s license; supervisory command of English.

Office Manager/Registrar. Contact the Office of Human Resources at the Bahá’í National Center for job requirements.

Assistant Cook (full time). Helps Head Cook, occasionally oversees kitchen/dining room operations; must have 2 years’ experience as cook.

Children’s Education Coordinator. 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 curriculum 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 a must; musical talent a plus.

AT GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL

ELIOT, ME

Office Assistant. Performs general office management and bookkeeping, assists with the bookstore, reception, registration. Must be grounded in Bahá’í principles, proficient in general secretarial/administrative skills, familiar with software including MS Word, Excel, Publisher and QuickBooks.

Assistant Cook (part- to full-time). Helps Head Cook, occasionally oversees kitchen and dining room; must have 2 years’ experience as cook.

AT NATIVE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í INSTITUTE

HOUCK, AZ

Children and Youth Program Coordinator. Carries out administrative, training and social tasks to coordinate day-to-day operation of youth programs, including Youth Service Corps volunteer program; collaborates with administrators to design and run an effective service, training and community involvement program for youth volunteers; communicates with youth from around the region and the country; develops youth newsletters, periodic conferences, retreats and deepenings; completes special projects and other duties. Needs driver’s license.

Maintenance Supervisor. Will manage facility/building maintenance and engineering staff to provide timely services at minimal costs; plan, estimate, schedule maintenance requests and projects; ensure that all equipment and buildings are efficiently and effectively maintained. Needs 5 years’ experience in all areas of building maintenance (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, cleaning etc.) with 3–5 years as a maintenance manager; valid driver’s license; supervisory command of English.

If interested in any of the above Bahá’í National Offices posts, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

INTERNATIONAL

China: Numerous openings for English teachers and professionals willing to travel for service in this rapidly developing country. For information contact John Cornyn (phone , fax 847-733-3509, 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 SEE CLASSIFIED, PAGE 27 [Page 27]

Special 'World Order' looks at family

"When the fairy tale ends, and the radiant couple, ever so much in love, exit to live happily ever after, they assume that their abiding love will see them through all of the fortuities and exigencies of life without conflict." But is this not also part of the fairy tale itself, asks Martha Schweitz, one of four authors whose work appears in the Spring 2001 issue of World Order, a quarterly publication of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States.

Schweitz, Michael L. Penn, Caren Rosenthal and Leili Towfigh took up World Order's challenge to consider "Perspectives on the Changing Family," the theme of a special issue.

Penn looks at the theme of the family from the perspective of gender equality in his article on "Eradicating Gender-Based Violence: Successes and Challenges." The Spring 2001 issue concludes with Rosenthal's and Towfigh's analysis of Thomas Vinterberg's The Celebration, examining the disclosure of family abuse, response, change, truth telling, reconciliation, justice, and the relationship of changes in the family to changes in the world.

That Bahá’í conceptions of the family should be related to our understanding of gender equality might come as no surprise. What might come as a surprise, however, is that World Order has published more articles on gender equality than any other publication worldwide.

The special issue of World Order is not just nightstand reading. Individuals have found great value in using the issue for personal and group study.

Martha Villagomez, a newlywed from Evanston, Illinois, reports that she and her husband are reading Schweitz's article together in their efforts to continue to deepen on the concept of Bahá’í marriage. "Schweitz offers methods for crafting one's own model of family governance based on Bahá’í principles," she says.

Robert Stockman, who coordinates the Wilmette Institute, notes, "Some of the themed issues have proved particularly valuable in our courses. It would be difficult for the Wilmette Institute to offer the range of courses it is offering without access to World Order's articles."

URGENT NEED AT THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD 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 museums to that of ordinary offices.

For more information see: www.usbnc.org

Please send résumé to: Bahá’í National Center Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (fax 847-733-3430, e-mail).

BAHÁ’Í SUBSCRIBER SERVICE

800-999-9019

World Order Making sense of the world by exploring the spiritual implications of 21st-century life

Summer 2001: Perspectives on the Promise of Peace • June Manning Thomas on removing racism from urban planning • Richard W. Thomas on positive interracial and multicultural movements that model peace • Leila Milani on the decision-making role of women in bringing about peace • Jeffrey S. Gruber on indigenization, universalization and world language • M. Eric Horton on Gregory Nava's El Norte • Firuz Kazemzadeh reviews Century of Light

Still available: Spring 2001 • Martha L. Schweitz on family governance • Michael L. Penn on eradicating gender-based violence • Caren Rosenthal and Leili Towfigh on truth telling and healing families through an analysis of Thomas Vinterberg's The Celebration

Coming Soon: Special issues on: • Constructing Gender • Does Race Exist? • Cities, Suburbs, and Countryside: Connecting the Spirit to the Environment

One Country Quarterly about development by the Bahá’í International Community Subscriptions: US-$12/ year, $22/2 years Outside U.S. surface mail $16/year, $30/2 years Outside U.S. air mail $20/year, $36/2 years Single copy: $3.50 + shipping/handling

Subscriptions: U.S.-$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

The American Bahá’í 10 times a year; available by subscription to Bahá’ís outside the continental U.S. Outside U.S. surface mail-$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 17

Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription Which publication? Send to: Address City State, ZIP Country Daytime phone or e-mail Sold to (if different from recipient): Address City State, ZIP Country Home phone Work phone Is this a gift subscription? (Circle one) Y N Fax E-mail

Check/money order payment must be in U.S. dollars from a U.S. bank, payable to Bahá’í Distribution Service. Do not combine subscription 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: Mail orders: Bahá’í Subscriber Service, 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30336-2017

opportunities and other events, please contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail).

International Teaching Projects

• Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Baltic States: Diversity Dance Theatre Europe, continuing through August 2002, systematically connecting proclamation of the Faith, personal teaching, dance and music, social service and training institute process. In cooperation with the Continental Board of Counselors, European Bahá’í Youth Council and many National Spiritual Assemblies, the project consists mainly of touring and "short-term pioneering" aiming at supporting and establishing "social dance projects."

Conferences, Schools and Events

Hawaii: "Fire in the Pacific" Centenary Conference in Honolulu, Dec. 20-23. Commemorating 100 years of the spread and progress of the Faith in the Pacific. Two heroines of the Heroic and Formative Ages will be showcased: the Hands of the Cause of God Agnes Baldwin Alexander and Martha Louise Root—both of whose gravesites are located in Hawaii.

Please contact the Office of Pioneering for detailed information about these and other international opportunities. Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail).

ARCHIVES

The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following: William D. Gardner, Ralph Garner, Lillian Beavers Garnett, Rosa Lee Dunston Garnett, Bessie M. Garrison, Faith Garsed and Jack Gartner. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these Guardian's letters is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-853-2359).

The National Bahá’í Archives has available several free information sheets on local archives and records. Any local Bahá’í community wishing a set is asked to send a request with a mailing address to the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039). [Page 28]

Parmelee served at home, abroad; was tireless worker for race unity

INFORMATION FROM ELLEN PARMELEE

Sylvia Parmelee traveled for the Faith as recently as four years ago, when she attended a course at Landegg Academy in Switzerland.

Sylvia Badieh Paine Parmelee met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in childhood and remained a lifelong servant to the Cause of God, traveling extensively to teach and to encourage the friends in this country and in Guyana, communicating with hundreds of international pioneers, and helping her husband maintain a welcoming home in Washington, DC, and later in Wilmette, Illinois.

After a brief hospitalization for heart failure, she died August 15, 2001, having lived in Wilmette nearly four decades. She was 92.

Born Aug. 4, 1909, in Urbana, Illinois, Sylvia was the daughter of Ellery Burton Paine—an engineering professor and later dean at the University of Illinois—and Mabel Hyde Paine.

When she was 6, Sylvia and her mother heard of the Bahá’í Faith while attending the Unitarian Church near their home. The minister, Albert Vail, had recently found and embraced the new religion and shared it with his congregation.

Mother and daughter wrote directly to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as was the procedure in those days, stating their wholehearted faith in Bahá’u’lláh. In 1920, they joined two others in the long and uncertain journey to the Holy Land to meet the Master.

As a Bahá’í youth, Sylvia was active in gatherings in Illinois, Indiana and the Davison (now Louhelen) Bahá’í School in Michigan. Her family ensured that she attend top-quality schools: University High School in Urbana, then Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1931.

That year, a second pilgrimage to Haifa allowed her to ask the Guardian for guidance: Should she find ways to serve the Faith or return to higher education? His clear encouragement spoke of the need of the Faith to have well-educated Bahá’ís who could attend to the teaching of the Faith to prominent leaders of thought.

With that in her heart, she worked to earn a master’s degree in economics in 1933 at the University of Illinois. There she met Rexford Clark Parmelee; the two were married in 1935 in Urbana.

Rex became employed by the federal government and the couple moved to Washington, DC. Both worked constantly to support the Bahá’í community. She was a member of Washington’s Spiritual Assembly for many years and their home served as a “center” for the community, receiving a constant flow of visitors—many of whom were guests at their regular firesides.

During the Ten Year Crusade beginning in 1953, Sylvia served as secretary of the Africa Teaching Committee, interviewing and sending pioneers to many countries in that vast continent. She and Rex began a study of those countries and their home was filled with books, artwork, and crafts of Africa.

An ardent student of the Writings, she also taught many courses in her community as well as at Green Acre Bahá’í School in Maine.

While in Washington, Sylvia maintained contact with Wellesley and its club for foreign students and, from her constant interest in foreign affairs, often supported projects with them, such as accompanying 17 foreign students to the Capitol to attend a hearing. She also supported the civil rights movement through such means as keeping the Bahá’í Center open during the historic March on Washington in 1963. She and Rex also supported an interfaith group that worked to help smooth the path of integration in housing, a cause for which they later gave much time and energy in Wilmette.

In 1964, as Rexford neared retirement from his government position, they were asked to serve at the Bahá’í National Center. They found a home very near the House of Worship in Wilmette, suitable for service to its growing needs.

Having learned so much about the needs of pioneers, she began work at the International Goals Office, where she remained until her retirement in 1975. During those years she also assisted with the production of Bahá’í News and other publications, and, with Rex, served on the Devotions Committee of the House of Worship.

Her work in the broader community included support of the League of Women Voters, Northshore InterFaith Housing and other community agencies, earning her an award as a Super Senior Citizen in 1978.

She and Rex also traveled extensively to teach the Faith within the U.S. as well as in Guyana, where her daughter Ellen, her husband and their three children were pioneering. They remember how Sylvia endured the many mosquitoes, heat, mud and lack of electricity and water during her regular stays in their home.

Despite her age, Sylvia traveled to several remote areas within Guyana and twice traveled to neighboring Suriname, always willing to share her accounts of that early pilgrimage, bringing those believers closer to the Heroic Age of their Faith.

Those visits helped in the establishment of youth classes, Feasts and commemorations. The couple generously supplied materials, equipment, books, slides, tapes and other items that made many teaching efforts possible, leading to a vast expansion of the Bahá’í community’s numbers in the area.

Although her last visit in Guyana ended with the return of Ellen and her family to the States in April, 1994, Sylvia traveled abroad again in October 1997, when at age 88 she attended a course at Landegg Academy (now Landegg International University) in Switzerland. She assisted with Bahá’í activities as long as her health and strength would allow.

In a message to the family, the National Spiritual Assembly said, “Sylvia embodied the name, ‘Badieh’ or ‘Wonderful’ bestowed upon her by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. ... Happiness and joy personified her devotion to her Lord.” They also noted that she and her husband “created a home of peace where friends were warmly welcomed and the teachings of the Faith diffused. It was always a haven and refuge for those giving service to the National Spiritual Assembly.”

Sylvia is survived by her three children, Richard, Ellen, and Marian, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. ♦

Paul was longtime pioneer to Saba

INFORMATION FROM ROBERTA SOLOMON AND THE OFFICE OF PIONEERING

Pauline Paul, a Bahá’í pioneer to the Caribbean island of Saba for 26 years, passed away peacefully in the company of two longtime Bahá’í friends on July 7, 2001, in Santa Rosa, California, where she had lived since 1997. She was 91.

Born Pauline Huntley on Nov. 30, 1909, in Des Moines, Iowa, she worked for years as a teacher.

While serving as caretaker for the Washington, DC, Bahá’í Center and secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly, she wrote in March 1972 to the International Goals Committee, offering to fulfill a goal of the Nine Year Plan. By July she was on Saba.

Pauline hosted a tea every week for the ladies of St. John, gave free piano lessons, held firesides every Friday night and gave 15 minute talks twice a week on Saba radio. She later added a news broadcast and nightly children’s programs, becoming known as the radio personality “Miss Pauline.”

In one of her letters to the International Goals Committee, she wrote, “I firmly believe that this island will be all Bahá’í someday. If they have listened to me on the radio for the last six years, they have to know something.”

She served on the board of the Saba section for International Women’s Year, speaking at unity meetings of all the churches, and made periodic trips to St. Kitts and Nevis.

Helping to establish two National Spiritual Assemblies in the Caribbean, twice she served as a national delegate to the Bahá’í International Conventions at the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa.

She received an award from the Kiwanis Club of Saba for her dedicated and sincere service to the people of the island. When Pauline left Saba to retire, she was given an official farewell including a tribute from the acting lieutenant governor and national Bahá’í representatives, with citizens holding flowers and signs along her way to the airport.

Pauline is survived by four children, David Paul, Dorothy Cronquist, Diana Bort and Donna Paine; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. ♦

Setareh promoted equality

INFORMATION FROM SIROUS SETAREH

Maryam Setareh taught the Bahá’í Faith with great love and dedication, and while she lived in Iran she was deeply involved in activities to advance the equality of women and men.

She ascended to the Abhá Kingdom on July 30, 2001, in Los Angeles, California.

Born into a devoted Bahá’í family in Kashan, Iran, in 1916, at a time when women in that country were limited socially and religiously, Maryam made remarkable strides, learning Hebrew at the age of 4 and Arabic later on. Around age 10 she took up the tar, a traditional Iranian stringed instrument, learning the rudiments by observing her grandfather Morad Amanat.

During her years of study, she received many awards and commendations because of her excellent memory. Through this ability, she was able to commit many of the Bahá’í sacred writings to heart, thus becoming very resourceful in helping Bahá’í friends to find answers to their spiritual questions.

She was a pioneer in advancing the interest of women wherever she lived. In Iran, she was deeply involved and associated with the activities of renowned Persian Bahá’í women. The Iranian Revolution of 1979 forced her and her family to flee to the United States, where they joined other members of their family.

During her several hospitalizations, it was her ardent desire to inform the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff about Bahá’u’lláh and the Faith.

Maryam is survived by six children and their respective families. ♦ [Page 29]

Trudy Eisenberg opened the Canary Islands

Gertrude (Trudy) Eisenberg, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh, died September 8 in her sleep at Monrovia Convalescent Home in Duarte, California. She was 95.

She was born June 13, 1906, in Sag Harbor, New York, to Jewish Hungarian immigrants and was raised, with her sister and three brothers, in a loving Orthodox home that encouraged independent thinking, education and an interest in the arts.

In the years following World War II, she became acquainted with the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith and wholeheartedly embraced them.

Always independent and adventurous, Eisenberg learned Spanish and began to travel extensively around the world to spread the Bahá’í message of unity, with stays in Guatemala, Hawaii, Paraguay and Brazil.

In 1953, she moved to the Canary Islands, opening the country to the Faith. For this pioneering effort, Shoghi Effendi designated her a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh.

In a letter to the International Goals Committee, Eisenberg wrote, “What a bounty for me and a privilege to assist in establishing the first Assembly on Grand Canary. I have to keep pinching myself.”

Patty Gill of South Pasadena remembers Eisenberg as a “beautiful, intelligent, spirited and passionate woman and believer who always cared for, ‎prayer prayed‎ for, and encouraged those in need. She never sought gain or recognition, only the opportunity for more service.”

Gill said she “took great delight in listening to opera and classical music, pleasing children, looking at beautiful flowers, making friends, and just reveling in the simple joys and beauty of life.”

Esther de Talley of Pasadena was a newly declared, “overwhelmed” Bahá’í when she met Eisenberg in 1966.

“We had hours of conversations, and she, as everyone who knew her knows, was a storyteller,” said de Talley. “All her words fell on my enchanted heart. I was so new at this Faith—couldn’t express a word coherently about it. But in my heart of hearts I was aflame, and Trudy stoked that flame even further.”

De Talley told a story of Eisenberg at her post in the Canary Islands.

“When her canary died ... she cried for days and days and days,” said de Talley. “And I think she knew her grief was a symbol, and pent-up sacrifices and loneliness had to be released in a certain ‎ways way‎.” She left no soul untouched by her kindness.”

Eisenberg was attacked in her parking lot in the early 1980s and had difficulty walking from then on, but she rarely if ever complained about her disability. She went into the nursing home at the end of 1997.

Eisenberg is survived by her brother, Jack, of Hayward, California, and many nephews and nieces, most residing in the Chicago area.

Burial was in Inglewood Park Cemetery near the Thornton Chase Memorial. ♦

IN MEMORIAM

Listings for “In Memoriam” come from the Membership Office of the Bahá’í National Center. To report the passing of a Bahá’í in the United States, please contact the Membership Office, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail ).

Wiley B. Allison East Point, GA 1996	Azrine Jones Hampton, SC 1998	Noorieh Samandari Eugene, OR July 24, 2001
Forough Anderson San Diego, CA August 22, 2001	Robert D. Keithley Albemarle County, VA August 12, 2001	Carol Sager Long Beach, CA July 23, 2001
Veronica D. Augustine Sells Chapter, AZ July 15, 2001	Fatemeh M. Khalighi Covina, CA June 2001	Maryam Setareh Los Angeles, CA July 30, 2001
Caryl Borea Roswell, GA August 26, 2001	Lars A. Larsen Orland, CA January 2001	Alice Singleton Anderson County, SC August 12, 2001
Saltanat Boshra Bunker Hill Village, TX April 1998	Donette Lee Ojai, CA April 23, 2001	William H. Smith Lansing, MI March 25, 2001
Jean L. Buckley Loveland, CO June 21, 2001	Lee McBride Pompano Beach, FL September 2, 2001	Cheryl L. Stull Port Angeles, WA April 24, 2001
Marc A. Croyle Cleveland, OH December 7, 2000	Fashri S. Nikubonyad San Diego, CA August 22, 2001	‎Aronld Arnold‎ H. Sutin Xenia, OH May 12, 2001
Virginia Forsmo Snohomish County, WA July 25, 2001	Nasser Nouri Riverside, CA January 2001	Harold J. Thomas Cleveland, OH September 2000
Margaret A. Gallagher Placerville, CA July 24, 2001	Ruhullah Noury Riverside, CA July 8, 2001	Irene Thomas Cleveland, OH August 1999
Leonard D. Graham Kingstree, SC April 21, 2001	Mallor Owens Cleveland, OH November 2000	Irene Trulear Philadelphia, PA May 19, 2001
Yahya Hedayati Scottsdale, AZ May 23, 2001	Sylvia B. Parmelee Wilmette, IL August 15, 2001	Mae M. White Horse Antelope District, SD June 2001
Nematollah Horriat Colorado Springs, CO August 22, 2001	Esmat Sabeti Seysan Beaverton, OR September 10, 2001	Louise S. Williams Glendale, AZ July 16, 2001

Udhnawala served in Sri Lanka on National Spiritual Assembly

The friends in Memphis, Tennessee, are mourning the loss of Tahirih Hakiman Udhnawala, who made a great impact on the Bahá’í community in a brief time.

A former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sri Lanka, she moved to Memphis with her son, Rahmat, to get treatment for the cancer that eventually claimed her life.

She died March 3, 2001, in Dallas, Texas, at age 45. The family had moved to suburban Coppell after Tahirih’s husband, Soli, got a job in the area. The Bahá’ís of Memphis and of the Dallas area held memorial services for her.

“She attended all the Bahá’í meetings. She tried to phone each member of the Bahá’í community to tell each that she loved him or her,” wrote Patricia Bradley, a veteran Memphis believer. “She tried to have each come to a delicious meal in her home. ... She made good friends at the West Clinic and volunteered there, besides going for frequent chemotherapy treatments.”

Tahirih did tailoring work while she and Rahmat stayed in Memphis, Bradley said. Neighbors were frequently welcomed into her apartment near LeMoyne-Owen College.

“She was a wonderful friend to me, sometimes calling me late at night to tell a joke,” Bradley wrote.

Born in Kerman, Iran, Tahirih Hakiman spent her childhood at a pioneering post in Iran so remote that it took several days to get there by truck. Her family moved later to Zahedan, where she learned tailoring.

When the Iranian Revolution broke out, Tahirih was attending college in Turkey, and she worked for years to comfort and counsel Bahá’í refugees from Iran.

She soon ventured to travel and teach in the Maldives Islands and Sri Lanka. At Sri Lanka’s National Convention in 1986 she met Soli Udhnawala. The pair married and settled in that country until late 1998.

Tahirih Hakiman Udhnawala is shown in a recent family photo with her husband, Soli, and their son, Rahmat.

From Ridván 1990 until 1994, Tahirih served on the National Spiritual Assembly there. For several years she was secretary of the national Bahá’í Child Education & Women Activities Committee.

“She has left an indelible memory on the majority of the Bahá’í population in this country,” the Sri Lanka National Assembly said in a message to the Universal House of Justice, copied to her husband, Soli. “She always wore a welcoming smile on her face and her vibrant personality would have infused new life into many, many believers, particularly the youths.”

In 1996, less than three years after Rahmat was born, she found signs of cancer. The family consulted her brother Sina, a physician in Iran, and she had surgery and chemotherapy. Later, her brother Sadegh arranged for treatment at a clinic in Memphis, where he lived, and she moved there in early 1999.

A few months after the family moved to Coppell in spring 2000, other health problems put her back in the hospital, and the cancer soon overtook her.

“When she left Memphis she said she had received many gifts—wonderful parents, Soli and Rahmat, but in many ways cancer had been her best gift,” Bradley recalled. “It gave her her heart’s desire—a greater opportunity to ... be of service.” ♦ [Page 30]

SEEKING YOUR RESPONSE: 2001 BAHÁ’Í CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AMERICAS

December 13-16 Rosen Plaza Hotel Orlando, Florida

Theme: CONTINUOUS LEARNING: DIVINE KEY TO HUMAN PROGRESS

TOPICS The Spiritual Nature of Social and Economic Development (SED); Ethics in SED; Initiating SED Projects: A Conceptual Framework to Help Guide SED Practice: Applying the Arts to SED; Application of SED Principles to Health Care: Dissolving the Barriers to Systematic Action: Youth Year of Service and SED; Moral Leadership Education; The Progress of Women Along the Path to Equality: "Toward Oneness": Practical Application of the Teachings to Eliminate Prejudice: Participatory Processes that Empower Communities; Bringing Spiritual Values to Business ... and much, much more.

MUSIC AND DRAMA The arts will be integrated throughout the Conference, including "Inspirational Learning through the Arts, directed by Leslie Asplund and featuring the talents of Farzad Khozein, KC Porter, Louis Shelton, Mark Ochu, Christina Quinn, Gwendolyn Watson, Roya Bauman, Laura Lee and many more.

For program details, see www.rabbanitrust.org Gene Andrews Wilma Ellis Eloy Anello Jack McCants Leslie Asplund

The new Five Year Plan calls upon us to "influence the course of human affairs." This is to be achieved through various initiatives, including establishing projects of social and economic development. The Plan calls for us to to utilize "a process of goal setting, action, evaluation and learning." As we've been told in the past, "... learning to apply the Teachings... could be taken as the very definition of SED." Key elements of the Conference program include a mixture of plenary and smaller concurrent sessions featuring presentations on SED principles, concepts, core processes and in-depth case studies, with a number of repeat sessions to assist the friends in being able to attend sessions of interest.

Featured presenters: Dwight and Doug Allen (U.S.). Eugene Andrews (U.S.), Eloy Anello (Bolivia), Luis Enrique Beust (Brazil), Michael and Judie Bopp (Canada), Austin Bowden-Kerby (Fiji), Wilma Ellis (U.S.), Tod Ewing (U.S.), Holly Hanson (U.S.), Jack McCants (U.S.), Naysan Sahba (US), Donald Witzel (Venezuela) and many more.

Registration & Fees Register online at our Web site: www.rabbanitrust.org For general information, call 407-740-5415 Adults $120 Youth (15-20 years) $80 Children and Junior Youth (3-14 years) $60 Add $19 contribution if possible for scholarships Add $20 per person after Nov. 10 No refunds for "no-shows" All cancellations subject to a $20 cancellation fee

TO REGISTER BY MAIL: Use the Multipurpose Form on this page SEPARATE COPY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL REGISTERING Mail check (in U.S. dollars) to Rabbani Charitable Trust 2693 W. Fairbanks Ave. Suite A Winter Park, Florida 32789 OR: To pay by credit card (Visa, MC, Amex, DC, CB), under "Special Information" write card number, exp. date, amount paid, cardholder's signature

HOTEL/AIRLINE/RENTAL CAR INFORMATION Hotel rooms at the Rosen (formerly Clarion) Plaza Hotel in Orlando: $50 per night (up to 4 people per room) Limited availability-call promptly 800-627-8258; mention Bahá’í Families Group Delta Airlines discounts through American Travel Consultants 800-241-6760 File #177623A Avis Car Rental discounts 800-331-1600 Avis Worldwide Discount Group #D131183

INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP

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

DOUGLAS MARTIN

We're all fallible. But if we reach as high as we can, Bahá’u’lláh will "bless what we raise up and will raise it up the rest of the way."

A new relationship

The Universal House of Justice member carried through the theme of empowerment to his second talk, "Taking Yes for an Answer":

• Bahá’ís have built institutions and a community through our unity. These are not just for us; they are designed to empower masses of humanity to arise and shape their own future.
• Bahá’u’lláh has given us a Divine Plan to end suffering and hopelessness. Through it, each person takes responsibility for all of humanity. Everything we do has global implications.

Divisions in society give rise to people such as those who attacked on Sept. 11. Globally, the largest division is in access to and distribution of wealth. As bad as the toll at the World Trade Center was, it pales next to the 800,000 murdered in Rwanda just three years ago. And the world had ample warning of that bloodbath.

• People who riot against globalization do so because they don't know whom to confront. The problem is injustice in distribution of the fruits of globalization. Our job is to foster the masses' hopes and dreams in the face of the amoral forces of lingering colonialism.

North American believers were made executors of the Divine Plan because circumstances allowed us to develop great powers and capacities.

In struggling against the failings of our society, we have employed qualities unique to America: We come from all over the world, we possess the confidence to "create in the wilderness a new type of society," and we are preoccupied with morality.

• This leadership role is a "crown that's eternal" and the birthright of every American Bahá’í.

Through generosity and our protection of the oppressed we also have aided the development of the worldwide Bahá’í community.

Today, however, this leadership role does not require sending knowhow or money. It requires standing alongside our friends—through travel, pioneering and youth service and participating in their efforts.

And it requires pure-hearted participation in Huqúqu’lláh—the portion of our assets that is God's.

The remainder of our assets is ours. And self-sacrificing contributions from this portion built the Arc and Terraces. That accomplishment in itself will begin a process of recovering our Bábí roots, our connection to the only true revolutionary of the past 200 years.

MULTIPURPOSE FORM

CLIP OR COPY AS NEEDED

For which event or activity? Name Address City Phone State, ZIP E-mail

Special information (please include dates if reporting international teaching trip): [Page 31]"جایگاه ایران در جامعه جهانی فردا"، "سرگذشت هنر موسیقی در ایران"، "الهام از معماری ایران: ایجاد هم آهنگی بین معماری شرق و غرب"، "یادی از هوشنگ گلشیری داستان نویس معاصر ایران"، "غربت در شعر فارسی"، "ایرانی که من دیدم"، ایراد گردید و یک برنامه اسلاید به نام "ایران دیروز، امروز و فردا" توسط دکتر مختار افشاریان و خانم کریستل فرنز Christel Franz به نمایش گذاشته شد.

سخنرانان امسال به ترتیب روزهای کنفرانس عبارت بودند از: مهندس بهروز جباری، دکتر شاپور راسخ، دکتر سیمین شیبانی، دکتر ایرج ایمن، خانم گیتی اجتماعی، دکتر وحید رأفتی، دکتر طلعت بصاری، دکتر سیروس مشکی، دکتر فرنکلین لوئیس، آقای کامبیز نصیرپور، و مهندس حسین امانت.

برنامه دیدار با خانواده‌های شهدای اخیر ایران با همکاری برنامه گنج سخن مشتمل بر شعرخوانی و تجلیل از شهدای ایران اجرا، شد.

هنرمندان عبارت بودند از منصور سبحانی، خشایار خسروان، مولود و ماریا هادی کرمانشاهی، گروه موسیقی نوروز (آقایان کیا و ضیاء طبسیان، امیر پارسا)، گروه موسیقی گلستان (آقایان ناصر و پدرام کاظمی، منوچهر میثاقی، خانم کتی رفیع زاده، نوری فرهت ثابت، وفا مستقیم)، گروه رقص آذر (خانمها آنیسا آذر، مونا موفق، ‎أدلیا بهبهانیس أدلیا بهبهانی‎ و آقایان دکتر داریا مجذوبی، احسان افتخاری) فرزاد حزین، رزحا سبحانی، شکوه رضایی پیمان فروغی آرانی و مهندس منوچهر وهمن، دکتر ضیاء ثابت، کیومرث حقیقی، روح الله محمود زاده، دکتر الهام ضیائی، دکتر سینا ثابت، دکتر هایده ثابت، عطا و سنا تابش، وفا لاله‌زاری، پناه نبیل اکبر، دکتر پرویز موفق و آقای مارک موفق دکتر حسن اقبالی برنامه‌های متنوع شعر خوانی، موسیقی و آواز و رقص محلی اجرا، نمودند.

میزگردی به سرپرستی خانم گیتی اجتماعی و با شرکت چند تن از جوانان بهائی که در چند سال گذشته از ایران خارج شده‌اند، با عنوان "حال و آینده جوانان ایران" ترتیب داده شد. این نورچشمان گرامی در میزگرد مذکور به بررسی اوضاع جوانان بهائی در ایران پرداختند و از آینده آنها گفتند و در انتها سرودی را که جوانان بهائی در ایران برای آرامش بخشیدن به جان و روان آزرده خود می‌خوانند، پایان این میزگرد در میان شرکت کنندگان در کنفرانس چشمی نبود که گریان نباشد و کسی نبود که تحت تأثیر سخنان جوانان عزیز ایران قرار نگرفته باشد.

همین تأثیرات را شرکت کنندگان در برنامه‌ی شب تجربه نمودند، یعنی وقتی که "برنامه‌ای از رادیو پیام دوست" با همکاری خانم شکوه رضائی و آقای وفا مستقیم و دیگر همکارانشان اجرا، گردید و صدای دوستان از ایران و خواندن سرودهای امری آنان شنیده شد تأثیر بسیار شدیدی در حاضران ایجاد نمود.

برنامه‌های موسیقی در کنفرانس در طی دو سال اخیر شاهد اجرای هنرمندان جوان ایرانی بوده است که از چند سال گذشته به امریکا آمده‌اند. گروه موسیقی "نوروز" که از کانادا در کنفرانس شرکت نمودند و گروه "گلستان" که از تگزاس تشریف آورده بودند هر دو مشتمل بر عده‌ای هنرمند جوان بودند. دوشیزگان مولود و ماریا هادی کرمانشاهی، دو خواهر بیست ساله و دوازده ساله، که هر دو با مهارتی فوق انتظار اهل فن به نواختن سنتور و تنبک و دف و خواندن آواز پرداختند نشان دادند که ایرانیان بهائی به رغم شدیدترین تضییقات به کسب کمالات مشغول هستند تا طبق وصایای حضرت بهاءالله سبب خیر و آسایش همه‌ی مردم روی زمین گردند. این دو فقط نمونه‌ای از بیش از سی نفر از هنرمندان عزیز جامعه ایرانی در آمریکای شمالی هستند که در کمال فروتنی و خضوع باجرای برنامه‌های موسیقی، رقص محلی، شعر خوانی و سخنوری پرداختند.

سخنرانان که بعضی میهمان ویژه انجمن بوده و از راهی دور قدم رنجه نمودند هر یک با بیانات بلیغ و مستند حضار را به اهتزاز در آوردند به طوری که اغلب با ایستادن و کف زدن ممتد مراتب سپاسگزاری خود را بجا می‌آوردند.

ناظمهای عزیز جلسات هر یک در کمال صداقت به اجرای برنامه‌ها پرداختند و به اقتضای وظیفه‌ای که به هر کدام آنان محول گردیده بود، مثل همیشه از همکاری با منویات هیأت مدیره چیزی دریغ ننمودند.

کمیسیونهای مسؤول برنامه‌های کودکان، نوجوانان، جوانان، بخش انگلیسی، برنامه‌ای متنوع هنری، و هیأت‌های مسؤول نام‌نویسی و نظارت به خدمات امنیتی و رسیدگی به نیازهای شرکت کنندگان و ارتباط با مسؤولین هتل همگی در هماهنگی با یکدیگر کوشیدند تا کنفرانس، به شهادت اکثر ناظران و منتقدان انجمن، به بهترین نوع ممکن و در عین فعالیتهای متنوع کنفرانس که همزمان روی میداد، برگزار گردد.

هیأت مدیره انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی به این وسیله از عموم همکاران که در موفقیت یازدهمین کنفرانس سالانه سهیم بوده‌اند سپاسگزار است.

دکتر شاپور راسخ

دوشیزه مولود هادی و دوشیزه ماریا هادی

دکتر قدیمی در مدرسه بوش

DR. GHADIMI AT BOSCH BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL

مدرسه بهائی بوش در کمال خوشوقتی اعلام میدارد که دوره آموزشی به زبان فارسی با ترجمه همزمان به زبان انگلیسی برای احبای الهی در باره شناسائی کتاب مستطاب اقدس و کتاب‌های مقدس ادیان گذشته به استادی جناب دکتر ریاض قدیمی و ترجمه جناب کامران نجاتی در روزهای ۲۲ تا ۲۵ نوامبر ۲۰۰۱ تشکیل خواهد شد.

هنرمندان عزیز بهائی نیز برنامه‌های موسیقی ایرانی اجرا، خواهند نمود.

توصیه می‌شود برای شرکت در این دوره فشرده از هم اکنون به نام نویسی اقدام فرمائید و از این فرصت مغتنم استفاده کنید.

مخارج غذا و مسکن برای بزرگسالان برای تمام دوره نفری ۱۷۰ دلار و برای خردسالان سن ۳ تا ۱۴ نفری ۹۵ دلار است.

برای اطلاعات بیشتر با شماره ۳۳۸۷-۴۲۳-۸۳۱ تماس بگیرید.

حقوق الله

HUQUQU’LLAH

حضرت بهاءالله میفرمایند: این بسی معلوم و واضح است که ادای حقوق الهی سبب نعمت و برکت و عزت و حفظ بوده و خواهد بود... و این در صورتی است که به کمال روح و ریحان و میل به احکام کتاب عمل نمایند.

برای ارسال حقوق الله، لطفا از نشانی امناء حقوق الله مندرج در صفحه ۳ در این نشریه استفاده فرمائید.

انتشارات جدید

قاموس توقیع منیع ۱۰۸ بدیع

فاضل جلیل جناب اشراق خاوری در حدود سال ۱۹۶۹ درباره مطالب مندرج در توقیع منیع ۱۰۸ بدیع صادر از قلم حضرت ولی امرالله بیاناتی ایراد کرده بودند که روی نوار صوتی ضبط گردیده بود. سرکار خانم ترانه رأفتی این تقریرات را بر روی کاغذ آورده‌اند، سپس محقق ارجمند دکتر وحید رأفتی مقدمه‌ای مبسوط و توضیحات و تعلیقات لازم را بر متن افزوده‌اند. در آغاز کتاب متن کامل توقیع آمده و جای جای تصاویر زیبائی از اماکن تاریخی مرکز جهانی بهائی کتاب را زینت بخشیده است. فهرست اعلام در آخر کتاب راهنمای مفیدی برای خواننده خواهد بود.

این مجموعه با چاپی بسیار مرغوب و جلد رنگین بوسیله مؤسسه عصر جدید منتشر شده است.

سفینة عرفان (جلد ۴)

سر آغاز چهارمین دفتر سفینه عرفان به الواحی که از قلم جمال مبارک در ادرنه و عکا نازل گردید مزین شده است. این دفتر شامل مقالاتی تحقیقی در باره کتاب مستطاب اقدس و بسیاری از الواح مبارک، و ضمائم جالب دیگری است.

علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند این دو کتاب را از موسسه Images International با تلفن شماره ۴۵۲۵-۴۷۰-(۸۰۰) تهیه فرمایند. [Page 32]و پریشان کرده اند. در خصوص روایاتی که زائران از طلعات مبارکه امر مبارک و حضرت ولی امرالله نقل کرده‌اند (و به آن در زبان انگلیسی pilgrims’ notes می‌گویند) به نکات زیر باید توجه داشت:

۱- مطالبی که از حضرت عبدالبهاء، و حضرت ولی امرالله نقل شده، برداشت شخصی زائران بوده است. فهم انسان، هر که باشد، با تجربیات و سوابق ذهنی و دانش او ارتباط دارد. چه بسا که حضرت ولی امرالله مطلبی را به گروهی از احباء اظهار فرموده و افراد مختلف استنباط‌های گوناونی از آن مطلب واحد داشته باشند.

۲- اگر روایاتی که از حضرت ولی امرالله نقل می‌شود با متن نصوص مبارک تطابق نداشته باشد، ابدا بدان مطالب نباید توجه کرد. طلعات مقدسه امر مبارک و حضرت ولی امرالله آنچه را که برای استقرار امر مبارک لازم دانسته‌اند، در آثار مبارکه خود به نص صریح نازل و صادر فرموده‌اند. به راستی چه فایده که مطلبی تنها به یکی از افراد احباء اظهار شود و دیگر احباء از آن بی خبر بمانند. لطف عام طلعات قدسیه امر مبارک مانع از آن است که مصالح امر مبارک را تنها با یکی دو زائر در میان نهند. حضرت ولی امرالله در دستخطی که از جانب هیکل مبارک خطاب به یکی از احباء صادر شده بیانی به این مضمون می‌فرمایند که آنچه هیکل مبارک بخواهند به دوستان ابلاغ نمایند در توقیعات مبارکه از قلم مبارک صادر خواهد شد.

۳- در صورتی که روایات صادق باشد باز هم ملاک عمل احباء نباید باشد. حضرت عبدالبهاء در یکی از الواح مبارکه می‌فرمایند:

در خصوص واردین از ارض اقدس و روایات مرقوم نموده بودید. هر روایتی که سند در دست نباشد اعتماد نشاید، زیرا اگر صدق باشد باز هم اسباب پریشانی است. نصوص معمول بهاست و بس. (گنجینه حدود و احکام، چاپ سوم، ۱۰۵ بدیع، ص ۳۴۰)

۴- اعتبار بخشیدن به روایات باعث ایجاد نصوص درجه دو خواهد شد که سرانجام به تفرقه و فساد بنیاد اعتقادی منجر خواهد شد. حضرت ولی امرالله در توقیعی به زبان انگلیسی بیاناتی می‌فرمایند که ترجمه فارسی آن چنین است:

بهائیان نباید به خطابات شفاهی که به حضرت عبدالبهاء نسبت داده شده، زیاد اهمیت بدهند مگر در صورتی که خطابات مزبوره به شرف صحه مبارک رسیده باشد. حضرت بهاءالله این مطالب را به حد کافی جهت احباء روشن فرموده‌اند که الواح و نصوص الهی معمول بهاست و بس. ممکن است موضوع روایات بسیار جالب نظر باشد ولی به هیچ وجه نباید به آن ترتیب اثر داد. این تعلیم مبارک اساسی جمال اقدس ابهی برای این بوده است که امر مقدس بهائی مانند اسلام که در آن به جمع احادیث و روایات منقوله از حضرت محمد ترتیب اثر داده می‌شود، فاسد نگردد. (گنجینه حدود و احکام، ص ۳۴۰-۳۴۱)

۵- مطالبی که در یادداشت‌های زائران ذکر می‌شود، معمولا یا خبر از فاجعه‌ای می‌دهد یا اگر مطالب مثبتی هم در آن باشد، ذهن خواننده بیشتر متوجه موضوع‌های منفی و چشمگیر از قبیل اخبار از خرابی شهرها و غیره می‌شود. اخبار منفی همان‌گونه که حضرت عبدالبهاء، در لوح نقل شده در بالا می‌فرمایند حتی اگر هم درست باشد باعث "پریشانی" و نگرانی احباء می‌شود. حضرت بهاءالله فرموده‌اند که هدف از ظهور مبارک "عمار عالم" است. جمال قدم اراده فرموده‌اند که اصلاح و "عمار عالم" به دست احباء صورت گیرد. رسالتی بدین عظمت و دشواری از دست کسانی ساخته است که با امید و روحیه‌ای مثبت در این راه پرمخافت گام بردارند. با پریشانی و نگرانی چگونه می‌توان شالوده عمار عالم را پی افکند؟ اهل بهاء را با نگرانی و پریشانی چکار!

۶- جمال قدم در حق اهل بهاء، عنایتی عظیم فرموده و برای حفظ وحدت جامعه و جلوگیری از هرآنچه باعث تفرقه شود، مرجع منصوص مصون از خطائی بدانان اعطاء نموده‌اند. اگر لازم باشد احباء می‌توانند درباره "امور مبهمه" از معهد اعلی درخواست هدایت کنند. یکی از احباء پرسشی درباره یادداشت‌های زائران از بیت العدل اعظم کرده است. در تاریخ ۷ اکتبر سال جاری دارالانشاء مرکز جهانی از جانب معهد اعلی مرقومه‌ای در پاسخ به پرسش مذکور صادر فرمود. آنچه در بالا ذکر شد، از مرقومه مذکور اقتباس شده است.

پایان این گفتار را با نقل دستخطی از حضرت ولی امرالله زینت می‌دهیم به این امید که یاران عزیز درباره مفاد آن به تأمل پردازند و سپس وارد میدان عمل شوند. ... میقات رفع تضییقات و آزادی امرالله و استقلال شریعة الله مجهول و علمش عندالله، ولی ثبات و استقامت یاران تأثیری عظیم و نفوذی شدید در وقایع حالیه و کیفیت ظهور وعود الهیه و اعلان شریعت سماویه دارد... (امر و خلق، ج ۴، ص ۲۸۲)

کانونشن ملی

93RD BAHA’I NATIONAL CONVENTION

نود و سومین کانونشن ملی بهائی از ۲۵ تا ۲۸ سال ۲۰۰۲ در طبقه زیرین مشرق‌الاذکار ویلمت در ایالت ایلینوی برگزار خواهد شد.

جدا از نمایندگان منتخب، اعضای هیئت مشاورین قاره‌ای و هیئت معاونت و شوراهای ناحیه‌ای بهائی نیز در کانونشن ملی شرکت خواهند کرد.

از آنجا که کانونشن در طبقه تحتانی مشرق‌الاذکار برگزار خواهد شد و ظرفیت سالن اجتماعات محدود است، فقط معدودی از احباء خواهند توانست در جلسات کانونشن شرکت نمایند.

بنابراین دوستانی که مایل به شرکت در کانونشن باشند، باید از پیش نام‌نویسی کنند. مهلت نام‌نویسی از ۲۶ نوامبر سال جاری تا ۴ مارچ سال ۲۰۰۲ است. دوستان قادر نخواهند بود تلفنی یا با پست الکترونیکی ثبت نام فرمایند. تقاضای نام‌نویسی باید از طریق پست و با استفاده از ورقه مخصوص نام‌نویسی ارسال شود. ورقه ثبت نام را می‌توان در صفحات انگلیسی این نشریه یافت.

همچنین برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر می‌توان با دفتر برگزاری کانونشن تماس گرفت.

شماره تلفن: ۴۲۵۷۹۷۴ -(۸۴۷) e-mail

گزارش یازدهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

FRIENDS OF PERSIAN CULTURE CONFERENCE

یازدهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی از ۳۰ اگست تا ۲ سپتمبر سال جاری در شیکاگو برگزار گردید. حدود ۱۵۰۰ نفر از آمریکای شمالی و دیگر قاره‌ها در این کنفرانس شرکت داشتند.

افزون بر دو برنامه اصلی که به زبان‌های فارسی و انگلیسی برگزار میشد، برنامه‌هائی برای کودکان و نوجوانان و جوانان نیز ترتیب داده شده بود.

کنفرانس امسال از نظر موضوع در واقع ادامه کنفرانس سال گذشته بود. موضوع محوری در کنفرانس سال گذشته قرن بیستم: قرن انوار بود و در آن وقایع و تحولات عمده قرن بیستم در ایران و جهان بررسی گردید. موضوع محوری کنفرانس امسال در آستانه قرنی نوین تعیین شده بود و عطف نظر بر مسائلی بود که در آغاز قرن بیست و یکم ایران و جهان با آن روبه‌رو خواهد شد. نگرانی‌ها و امیدها و طرح‌های تازه برای ایجاد جهانی که روی آسایش و آرامش را ببیند مد نظر انجمن بود.

هر روز کنفرانس مشتمل بر سه واحد زمانی دو ساعت و نیمه بود. در واحدهای صبح و بعد از ظهر در برنامه به زبان فارسی، پس از تلاوت مناجات و یکی از الواح حضرت بهاءالله دو سخنرانی توسط ناطقین عزیز ارائه میشد و بین دو سخنرانی یک برنامه موسیقی توسط یک یا چند نفر از هنرمندان عزیز اجرا می‌گردید. برنامه به زبان انگلیسی هم مشابه برنامه فارسی بود.

در برنامه شبها هنرمندان عزیز به اجرای برنامه‌های متنوع موسیقی و شعرخوانی می‌پرداختند. ضمنا یک مصاحبه یا سخنرانی کوتاه نیز صورت میگرفت. هر روز ظهر یک اتوبوس با ظرفیت ۵۶ نفر علاقه‌مندان را به مشرق‌الاذکار در ویلمت میبرد و قبل از ساعت ۳ بعد از ظهر به هتل باز می‌گرداند.

از فعالیت‌های جنبی کنفرانس برنامه دیدار اماکن تاریخی بهائی در شیکاگو بود که در دو نوبت قبل و بعد از برنامه کنفرانس انجام شد. این برنامه چهار ساعته مشتمل بر دیدار مهم‌ترین مکان‌هائی است که به قدوم مبارک حضرت عبدالبهاء در اوائل ماه می ۱۹۱۲ مشرف شده بود.

بخش‌های مهم برنامه فارسی

برنامه‌های هنری در شب آغازین کنفرانس شامل برنامه‌های موسیقی توسط هنرمندان عزیز منصور سبحانی و خشایار خسروان، دوشیزگان مولود و ماریا هادی کرمانشاهی و گروه نوروز بود. همچنین برنامه رقص لری توسط گروه رقص آذر اجرا گردید. دو سخنرانی کوتاه توسط مهندس بهروز جباری با عناوین "یادی از چند شاعر ایرانی" و "شعر فارسی در افغانستان" ایراد گردید.

در ضمن سه روز کنفرانس علاوه بر بیان اهداف انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی و قرائت پیام محفل روحانی ملی خطاب به شرکت‌کنندگان در کنفرانس، سخنرانی‌هائی درباره "تحولات اجتماعی در ایران امروز"، "موقعیت زنان در ایران و سیمای آینده آنان"، "تحول تعلیم و تربیت در ایران و نقش جامعه بهائی"، "اهمیت و تاثیر رسانه‌های همگانی"، تحولات فرهنگی، فکری و ادبی در ایران امروز، "‎تیازهای نیازهای‎" تحقیقی و تألیفی در جامعه بهائی"، "مولانا جلال‌الدین رومی"، ... [Page 33]تعداد احباء، و متحریان حقیقت و میزان فعالیت در هر کُد پستی را بررسی کرد و چند نقطه را برای اقدامات اولیه شناسایی نمود. احباء تشویق شده‌اند جلسات مطالعه‌ای برای ایجاد تحرک و رشد و گسترش دائر کنند.

پس از واقعه ۱۱ سپتامبر جامعه بهائی و افراد احباء در نیویورک از سراسر جهان و ایالات متحده صدها پیام نگرانی و تسلی و همدردی از طریق تلفن و پست الکترونیکی و نامه دریافت داشتند. واقعه مذکور یاران نیویورک را بیش از پیش از اهمیت ابلاغ پیام نجات‌بخش حضرت بهاءالله به فرزندان گمگشته عالم آگاه ساخته و ایشان را متذکر نموده است که تنها راهی که عالم بشری برای بقای خود در پیش دارد ایجاد و گسترش محبت در بین همه مردم جهان است.

اقدامات در دیگر نقاط ایالات متحده

احبای سایر جوامع امری در ایالات متحده نیز بنا به استطاعت خود از تقدیم خدمات دریغ نورزیده‌اند. یکی از احبای سینت‌لوئیس در ایالت میزوری می‌گفت از آنجا که احباء در ۲۰ سال گذشته کوشیده‌اند با اولیای امور و افراد برجسته گوناگون ارتباط برقرار کنند، اقداماتشان اثر بخشیده است. صبح روزی که روز عزاداری ملی اعلام شده بود، کشیش یکی از کالج‌های شهر با احباء تماس گرفت و تقاضای ارسال مناجات کرد و گفت اگر در جلسه دعا بهائیان نماینده‌ای نداشته باشند، خود او به نمایندگی جامعه بهائیان مناجات بهائی خواهد خواند!

در هانتس‌ویل Huntsville در ایالت آلاباما نیز به علت عضویت احباء در سازمان‌های گوناگون عدالت و بین‌الادیان، احباء در جلسه‌ای شرکت داشتند که ۱۲۰۰ نفر در آن حضور به هم رساندند. در برنامه‌ای که اجرا شد، ادعیه هندو و یهودی و مسیحی و مسلمان و بهائی تلاوت شد.

خانم جکی اقراری ثابت ساکن مک‌لین McLean در ایالت ویرجینیاست. مک‌لین در چند مایلی پنتاگون واقع است. خانم اقراری ‎شایت ثابت‎ دوستان و همسایگانش را به اداره آتش‌نشانی محل برای تلاوت دعا و مناجات دعوت کرد. ایشان اظهار می‌داشت که می‌خواسته است خدمتی به جامعه خود کند و فرصتی فراهم آورد که همه در آن احساس راحتی کنند. در این جلسه بیش از صد نفر شرکت کردند که چند تن آنها هندو و زردشتی بودند.

احبای دی‌تن Dayton در ایالت اوهایو به همراه ۵۰ نفر از رهبران دینی بیانیه‌ای در پاسخ به وقایع ۱۱ سپتامبر صادر کردند. همچنین احباء در جلسه دعائی که در مدرسه اسلامی یکی از شهرک‌های حومه دی‌تن تشکیل شده بود، شرکت کردند.

هنگامی که وقایع ۱۱ سپتامبر رخ داد، احبای بوستن در ایالت ماساچوست به فکر کمک به خانواده‌های مسافران هواپیماهای منفجر شده و کارکنان آن افتادند. خانم مژده روحانی مددکار اجتماعی است که معمولاً به وضع روحی پناهندگان و افراد شکنجه‌دیده رسیدگی می‌کند. اما پس از وقایع مذکور ایشان فوراً با سازمان صلیب سرخ تماس گرفت و نام خود را در لیست مشاوران روان‌درمانی آن سازمان گذاشت که به هر صورتی شده به نیازمندان کمک کند.

یکی از احبای نشویل در ایالت تنسی نیز که متخصص ناراحتی‌های روانی است داوطلب شد که به خانواده‌های مصیبت‌زدگان کمک کند. ایشان قرار بود از طریق ایندیاناپولیس عازم پنسیلوانیا شود و از آنجا به نیویورک رود. در پیغامی که روز بعد فرستاد، تقاضا کرده بود در حق همه دعا کنند.

وظیفه احباء در این زمان

OUR MISSION

از ۱۱ سپتامبر به بعد جامعه جهانی با بحرانی جدید رو به رو شده است. سران کشورها به رایزنی پرداخته‌اند. بعضی موضع‌گیری کرده و برخی تحریض به جنگ و جمعی نیز اخطار از بروز رویدادهای غیرمنتظره می‌کنند.

اهل بهاء که به برکت ایمان به ایمنی روحانی رسیده‌اند، با توسل به تعلیمات قلم اعلی وضع کلی جهان را درک می‌نمایند. حضرت بهاءالله می‌فرمایند:

«اگر اهل ارض فی‌الحقیقه تفکر کنند، ادراک می‌نمایند که مصلحت کل ظاهراً و باطناً توجه به حق جلّ جلاله بوده و هست. غفلت عباد و اعمال باطله ایشان به صور بلایای مختلفه ظاهر شده و ارض را احاطه کرده...» (امر و خلق، ج ۴، ص ۲۹۲)

جمال مبارک "توجه به حق" را مصلحت همگان می‌دانند. اما "توجه به حق" یعنی چه؟ بی تردید پاسخ‌های گوناگونی می‌توان به این پرسش داد که هر یک در حد خود ممکن است درست باشد.

از جمله تعبیراتی که می‌توان برای "توجه به حق" ارائه داد، شناختن مظهر امر و سپس عمل به احکام اوست؛ از جمله در جهان بودن و مبتلا نبودن به آن است؛ از جمله رو به سوی خدا آوردن به صورت ادای نماز و تلاوت مناجات است؛ از جمله هم‌نشینی با اهل خداست.

حضرت عبدالبهاء، مثل اعلای امر بهائی و سرمشق رفتار احباء، پس از آزادی از زندان قدم در راه مجاهدت نهادند و با اینکه از عمر مبارکشان نزدیک به ۷۰ سال می‌گذشت به مصر و اروپا و امریکا سفر کردند و با هر گروهی رو‌به‌رو شدند و به ابلاغ پیام الهی و دعوت همگان به "توجه به حق" برخاستند. به فرموده مبارک:

«عبدالبهاء در کنائس و محافل اروپا و امریک در اکثر مدن نعره‌زنان اعلان امر حضرت بهاءالله نمود و ندا به ملکوت ابهی کرد... با وجود این ناس در خواب غفلت گرفتار، متمسک به مجاز و از حقیقت بیزار. هنوز ناس در شهوات نفسانیه منهمک به درجه‌ای که صور اسرافیل بیدار ننماید. البته این غفلت و کفران نعمت و عدم انتباه سبب حسرت و مشقت و جنگ و جدال و حصول خسران و وبال است، و اگر اهل عالم توجه به اسم اعظم ننماید، خطر عظیم در استقبال...» (امر و خلق، ج ۴، ص ۲۹۵-۲۹۶)

بنا به فرموده مبارک تنها راه آسایش توجه به اسم اعظم است. اکثر بهائیان ایرانی به برکت همت و روح پاک پیشینیانشان مظهر امر الهی را در این دور شناخته‌اند. اما خود می‌دانند که این شناسائی اهل بهاء کافی نیست. اگر همه مردم از تعالیم جان‌بخش الهی بهره نبرند "خطر عظیم" در انتظارشان خواهد بود.

اهل بهاء برای اینکه همه مردمان "توجه به حق" کنند، راهی در پیش دارند که ساده است اما آسان نیست. ساده است زیرا کلیاتش را مظهر امر الهی معین فرموده و حضرت عبدالبهاء نقشه آن را تبیین نموده و حضرت ولی امرالله راه اجرایش را به عنوان سرمشق در نقشه‌هایی که طرح فرمودند نشان داده‌اند. پس از دوره ولایت نیز معهد اعلی با طرح نقشه‌های بعدی راه رسیدن به مقصد والای اهل بهاء را مرحله به مرحله ارائه فرموده اند.

دیوان عدل الهی نقشه پنج‌ساله محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده را تأیید نموده‌اند. طرح کلی نقشه پنج‌ساله بر محور تحقق وعده "یدخلون فی دین الله افواجاً" می‌گردد. در نقشه پنج‌ساله ایالات متحده فرد فرد اعضای جامعه اعم از زن و مرد و خردسال و جوان و سالخورد وظیفه‌ای بر عهده دارند.

از یاران عزیز تقاضا می‌شود به نسخه چاپ شده نقشه پنج‌ساله رجوع فرمایند و مفاد آن را در خانواده و نقاط منفرد و جوامع امری خود اجراء نمایند. عالم بشری چه بخواهد چه نخواهد نیازمند تعالیم امر بهائی است. اگر راه صلح برگزیده نشود، به ناچار طریق جنگ سرنوشت محتوم عالم انسانی خواهد بود. حضرت بهاءالله به تصریح فرموده‌اند: «عنقریب است که اعلام قدرت الهی را در همه بلاد مرتفع بینی. در تحقق این بیان محکم الهی شکی نیست، منتهی باید از خود بپرسیم آیا کدام نسل از احباء این اعلام قدرت را مرتفع خواهد کرد. به راستی باید چرک تردید و ترس را از خود زدود. جهان منقلب است و کار اصلاح آن دشوار اما به فرموده معهد اعلی هر چه کار صعب‌تر و موانع بیشتر آتش غیرت احبای جمال مبارک تیزتر و هر چه عزم یاران در خدمت آستانش راسخ‌تر، تأییدات غیبیه مبارکه اش شامل‌تر... در این اوان که کاروان‌های هدایت مهیای حرکت به وادی سعادت ابدیه‌اند، فرصت را دریابید؛ بکوشید و بشتابید تا این قافله را سالاری کنید. بدرقه راهتان تأییدات ملکوت ابهی، محافظ خیلتان جنود ملأ اعلی، مرکب رهوار‌تان سمند همت و وفا، علم رفيعتان اسم اعظم یا بهاءالابهی... منزل مقصودتان مدینه رضای مولای توانا، اجر محتومتان سعادت دنیا و عقبی. دیگر تا غیرت و همت شما در میدان عبودیت چه فرماید.»

روایات درباره آینده جهان

PILGRIMS’ NOTES

به جرأت می‌توان ادعا کرد که رویدادهای هولناک ماه سپتامبر بر همه اهالی ایالات متحده و بسیاری از مردم جهان تأثیر نهاده است. احباء نیز از این تأثیرپذیری مستثنی نبوده‌اند.

هنگامی که مردم زیر فشار روحی شدیدی قرار می‌گیرند و با وقایعی رو‌به‌رو می‌شوند که دفع آن خارج از اختیارشان است، راه‌های گوناگونی برای مواجهه با آن بر می‌گزینند. برخی می‌کوشند با مشغول کردن و مشغول نگاهداشتن خود به هر چه که باشد، از شدت تأثیر فشار بکاهند. گروهی سعی می‌کنند افکار و عواطف خود را با دیگران در میان نهند و بدین ترتیب با تقسیم فشار از تأثیر آن کم‌تر آسیب ببینند. بعضی نیز چنان تحت تأثیر قرار می‌گیرند که دست به دامن خیالات و خرافات می‌شوند و می‌کوشند با یافتن سرنخی از حوادث اخیر در گفته‌ها و نوشته‌های پیشینیان خود را تسلی دهند که آنچه اتفاق افتاده، در واقع تحقق نبوتی است که در اثری و گفته‌ای از این پیش گفته شده است.

اهل بهاء باید به راستی از قرار گرفتن در گروه آخر بر حذر باشند. شکی نیست که در نصوص مبارکه کلیاتی راجع به آینده جهان ذکر شده است. اما احباء نباید با اکتفاء به بیانی در جائی بدون در نظر گرفتن شأن نزول آن یا بدون ملاحظه دیگر آثاری که ممکن است در شرح و بسط همان موضوع ذکر شده باشد، خود را به نتائجی قاطع و محتوم برسانند و خدای‌ناکرده نظرات شخصی خود را بر دیگر اعضای جامعه نیز تحمیل کنند.

در چند هفته گذشته برخی از احباء با رجوع به شبکه اینترنت به یادداشت‌هائی که برخی از زائران ارض اقدس از بیانات حضرت ولی امرالله تهیه کرده‌اند، دست یافته و آن را برای دوستان خود فرستاده‌اند. دوستانشان نیز به همین ترتیب، مطالب ارسالی را برای آشنایانشان ارسال داشته و در نتیجه خود و دیگران و شمار زیادی از احباء را نگران... [Page 34]

ترجمه پیام بیت العدل اعظم

مورخ ۵ اوت ۲۰۰۱ خطاب به محافل روحانی ملی

یاران عزیز محبوب

بیت العدل اعظم مقرر فرمودند نتایج ارزشیابی وضعیت فعلی و نیازهای صندوق بین‌المللی امر مبارک را که بعد از اکمال طرحهای جبل کرمل به عمل آمده است به اطلاع شما برسانیم.

بلاتردید این موفقیت که با توفیق بارز و چشمگیر مراسم افتتاح رسمی طبقات مقام حضرت اعلیٰ به روی عموم، به جامعۀ اسم اعظم، که نقشۀ پنجساله را آغاز نموده و برای ترقی و تقدم دخول افواج مقبلین فعالیت می‌کند، قوائی بدیع و اطمینانی جدید بخشیده است.

با تبرعات کریمانه و ایثار گرانۀ اهل بهاء، در جمیع اکناف بسیط غبراء، منابع مالی کافی برای تأمین نیازهای این برنامۀ عظیم تاریخی فراهم گشت و استمرار عملیات ساختمانی را تا انتهای برنامه بدون ادنی وقفه‌ای میسر ساخت بیت العدل اعظم با اطمینان از این که وجوه موجود تکافوی مخارج عظیم بنا و ابتیاع برخی اراضی حول طبقات را خواهد نمود تصمیم گرفتند صندوق طرحهای حول قوس را بلافاصله مسدود سازند.

حال مشهود و معلوم گشته است که، در نتیجهٔ تعدادی از موارد اخیر توسعه که ذیلاً ذکر می‌شود، نیازهای صندوق بین‌المللی بهائی به میزان معتنابهی تزاید یافته است.

افزایش شدید در سرعت فعالیت و حرکت جامعۀ بهائی در سراسر عالم در اثر افتتاح نقشۀ پنجساله موجب نیاز فوری و اضطراری به منابعی شده است تا بتوان پاسخگوی فرصت‌های جدیدی شد که اکنون برای تشدید رشد و تأثیر بر جامعه در حال ظهور و بروز است.

منابع کافی باید به نگهداری طبقات و ابنیه حول قوس، شامل حفاظت از وضعیت مطلوب حدائق و اراضی تنسیق شده، حفظ ساختمان‌ها و تزئینات آنها، و تأمین موازین امنیتی مناسب اختصاص یابد.

برای تعداد دائم التزاید بازدیدکنندگان از طبقات که اکنون در حدود ۳۵۰۰۰ نفر در هفته تخمین زده می‌شود، شامل نفوسی که در گروه‌های ۶۰ نفره در هفت روز هفته هدایت می‌شوند، راهنمایان مورد نیاز باید تأمین گردد.

باید بدون ادنی تأخیری توجه بیشتر به محافظت از مدارک گرانبها و اشیاء با ارزشی که با دوران رسالت و قیادت طلعت مقدسه و حضرت ولی امرالله مرتبط است مبذول داشت تا از ضایع شدن این اقلامی که امکان جایگزینی برای آنها متصور نیست جلوگیری گردد.

این ضروریات و مقتضیات فزاینده در زمانی رخ گشوده که شرایط اقتصادی در عالم و سایر عوامل باعث کاهش شدید در میزان در آمد صندوق بین‌المللی بهائی گردیده است. بیت العدل اعظم اطمینان دارند که فداکاری که احبای الهی در حمایت از صندوق طرحهای حول قوس از خود به منصۀ ظهور رسانده‌اند، روحی جدید در عکس‌العمل آنها به احتیاجات اضطراری صندوق بین‌المللی در سالهایی که بلافاصله در پیش داریم، خواهد دمید. معهد اعلیٰ مقرر فرمودند اطمینان دهیم که بیت العدل اعظم در اعتاب مقدسه و مقامات متبرکه دعا خواهند فرمود تا در این هنگام که وسائط جریان و سریان منابع لازم برای ایفای تعهدات بین‌المللی امر مبارک را مورد غور و خوض قرار می‌دهید، هدایات الهیه شما را موید بدارد.

با تحیات ابدع ابهیٰ

دارالانشاء

ترجمه پیام بیت العدل اعظم

مورخ ۱۴ سپتامبر ۲۰۰۱ که از طریق پست الکترونیکی مخابره شده است MESSAGE OF 14 SEPTEMBER

محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایالات متحدۀ امریکا یاران عزیز،

بیت العدل اعظم متن پیام آن محفل جلیل را که خطاب به جامعۀ بهائیان امریکا به دلیل فاجعه‌ای که در کشور شما رخ داده صادر شده با همدردی صمیمانه مطالعه نمود. مطمئن باشید که در اعتاب مقدسه برای مردم امریکا ادعیه و مناجات تقدیم به آستان الهی می‌شود.

با تقدیم اشواق گرم بهائی

دار الانشاء.

فاجعه امریکا و عکس‌العمل احباء

RESPONSE TO TRAGEDY

در بحبوحه اخبار رویدادهای مصیبت‌بار روز ۱۱ سپتامبر و سخنانی که درباره جنگ و خصومت به میان آمده است، اهل بهاء بیش از پیش به اهمیت رسالت روحانی خویش آگاه می‌شوند. جامعه بهائی باید در زمان سختی پناهی برای دیگران باشد و در گیر و دار دشمنی بکوشد که نهال دوستی بنشاند.

احبای نیویورک فراخور توانائی جامعۀ بهائی از ۱۱ سپتامبر دست به فعالیت‌هائی زده‌اند که در زیر به آگاهی خوانندگان عزیز می‌رسد:

جهت خدمت به مردم نیویورک

• حظيرة القدس هر شب برای دعا و مناجات باز است.
• محفل روحانی ۵۰۰ دلار به صندوق خیریه ویژه تقدیم داشته و تسهیلاتی برای احباء فراهم آورده است که بتوانند به صندوق خیریه ویژه نیویورک تبرع کنند.
• احبای نیویورک در چندین جلسه مشترک بین ادیان شرکت کرده و به اهمیت شرکت در اینگونه جلسات در آینده پی برده‌اند.
• کوشش شده است با جامعۀ اسلامی نیویورک تماس مرتب جهت کمک‌های احتمالی به اعضای آن برقرار باشد.
• تعدادی از احباء روزهای یکشنبه به Union Square می‌روند و کسانی را که عزیزانشان را از دست داده‌اند، به جلسات دعا در حظيرةالقدس دعوت می‌کنند. در این جلسات شرکت‌کنندگان فرصتی می‌یابند که درباره وقایع اخیر صحبت کنند. پس از تنفس و پذیرائی از کسانی که مایل باشند دعوت می‌شود در جلسۀ تبلیغی شرکت کنند.
• گروه تئاتر کودکان Children’s Theatre Company (یکی از طرح‌های اجتماعی بهائیان نیویورک) با همکاری یکی از سازمان‌های امدادی روز ۲۰ سپتامبر برنامه‌ای در موزۀ اطفال منهتن Children’s Museum of Manhattan اجرا کرد. برنامۀ گروه تئاتر کودکان برای یکی از جلسات ویژۀ سازمان ملل دربارۀ کودکان تهیه شده بود که اجرای آن به علت وقایع ۱۱ سپتامبر به تعویق افتاد.
• همچنین قرار بود همزمان با جلسۀ ویژۀ سازمان ملل دربارۀ کودکان، پنجمین جلسه بین‌الادیان دربارۀ تعهد به کار سازمان ملل متحد منعقد شود. این جلسه بر طبق برنامه، روز ۱۳ سپتامبر برگزار شد و به کسانی که در رویداد ۱۱ سپتامبر جان خود را از دست دادند، تقدیم گردید. در جلسۀ مذکور آقای کوفی عنان دبیر کل سازمان ملل و برخی دیگر از صاحب منصبان آن به همراه ۴۰ نفر از رؤسای ادیان شرکت داشتند. نمایندۀ محفل روحانی ملی در سازمان ملل آقای جفری هافاینز Jeffery Huffines در سمت رئیس کمیسیون دینی سازمان‌های غیردولتی، به حاضران خوشامد گفت و فقراتی از آثار مبارکۀ بهائی را که محفل روحانی ملی در پیام خود به مناسبت ۱۱ سپتامبر نقل کرده بودند، قرائت کرد.
• اعضای دفاتر ملی و بین‌المللی بهائی در نیویورک دو روز بعد از اینکه ساختمان سازمان ملل به علل امنیتی تخلیه گردید، به دفاتر خود بازگشتند و به اجرای وظائف خود دوباره مشغول شدند. دفتر جامعۀ بین‌المللی بهائی و دفتر نمایندۀ محفل روحانی ملی در سازمان ملل و نیز دفتر روابط عمومی جامعۀ بهائی در ساختمانی مجاور ساختمان سازمان ملل متحد قرار دارد. تلفن دفاتر مذکور تا دو هفته بعد از روز حملات کار نمی‌کرد اما به فاصلۀ کوتاهی، شمارۀ تلفن دیگری معین شد و قابلیت کار دفاتر اعاده گردید.

در جامعه بهائی

• ارتباط بین محفل روحانی محلی و احباء دوباره برقرار شده است و نشریۀ جامعۀ بهائی بنام مدینۀ میثاق City of the Covenant شماره‌ای را به پاسخ جامعۀ بهائی به رویدادهای ۱۱ سپتامبر اختصاص داده است.
• محفل روحانی نیویورک جلسه‌ای تشکیل داد که در آن عضو بیت العدل اعظم الهی جناب داگلاس مارتین شرکت و سخنرانی فرمودند. همچنین شورای منطقه‌ای بهائی جلساتی در دانشگاه کلمبیا منعقد کرد که در آن جناب مارتین راجع به "قرن انوار" سخنرانی کردند و احبای محل را با سهمی که اکنون باید بر عهده بگیرند، آشنا ساختند و اهمیت تبلیغ امر مبارک را گوشزد فرمودند.
• تمهیدات اولیه برای برنامۀ تبلیغی منظمی در نیویورک و حومۀ آن در دست تهیه است. پس از آنکه محفل روحانی روز ۱۵ سپتامبر با شورای منطقه‌ای بهائی و اعضای هیئت معاونت و مؤسسات آموزشی منطقه‌ای ملاقات کرد، قرار شد که اقدامات لازم برای برنامۀ تبلیغی مذکور ادامه یابد. قرار بود مشاور قاره‌ای خانم ربکا مرفی Rebecca Murphy و نمایندگان لجنه ملی نشر نفحات نیز در این ملاقات شرکت داشته باشند ولی به علت وقایع ۱۱ سپتامبر افراد مذکور نتوانستند به نیویورک سفر کنند.
• برنامۀ ۲۰ ساله‌ای جهت گسترش جامعه در محله‌های گوناگون طرح شده است. نیویورک متشکل از ۵ منطقه بزرگ است. محفل روحانی با توجه به اینکه نمونه‌ای برای پیوسته ساختن مناطق پنجگانه وجود ندارد،

[Page 35]

‘Voices’ across Europe

Choir performs in four countries, earns prize

INFORMATION FROM REBECCA MOTLAGH

More than 6,200 people attended performances of the Voices of Bahá choir June 22–July 9 as it traveled to seven cities in four countries and performed at some of the premier facilities in Europe, on a tour that encompassed several firsts:

• It was the first time the choir, led by Tom Price, was accompanied on tour by a professional orchestra, the 85-member National Slovak Radio Orchestra.
• It was the first time the choir entered into competition, the Second International Johannes Brahms Choir Fest and Competition in Wernigerode, Germany, for which it earned two medals.
• The 165 singers made up the largest touring group in the choir since it was founded in 1992. Singers from the United States and 18 other nations made the 1,800-mile trek alongside 25 non-singers and traveling teachers.

The choir performed with the Slovak orchestra in Bratislava, Slovakia; Madrid and Barcelona, Spain; Thonon-les-Bains and Paris, France. It went on to perform ‎a capella a cappella‎ at the Brahms competition and at the Mother Temple of Europe in Langenhain, Germany.

The program for the five city performances featured many songs familiar to Bahá’ís from the Second World Congress of 1992; a number of gospel pieces directed by Van Gilmer or featuring him as soloist; established jazz and classical pieces as well as pop numbers; and “O God, My God,” sung in the local language—Slovakian, Spanish, Catalan or French.

After only two days of practice together, the choir embarked June 24 on a series of ‎performaces performances‎ that often saw listeners filling such prestigious venues as Radio Symphony Hall in Bratislava, the National Music Auditorium in Madrid, Barcelona Auditorium and others. Enthusiastic audiences at each performance ranged from 600 to 1,200.

Official warmth

Dignitaries from Slovakia and Spain showed particular appreciation for the programs. According to Omeed Jahanpour, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Slovakia, a civil servant from the Ministry of Culture attended the Bratislava concert to get firsthand information on the Bahá’í Faith, in response to some misleading reports in the country’s media.

The civil servant “said she enjoyed the evening and was surprised by how normal Bahá’ís are,” Jahanpour said.

Later, the Slovak consul for cultural affairs in Paris attended that city’s performance. He praised the collaboration between the choir and the Slovak orchestra as “a very happy marriage.”

In Spain, the welcome was even more effusive, beginning with a reception with the mayor of Madrid as host. Credit was largely due to the local Bahá’í community for organizing the concert as a benefit for UNICEF and a Spanish refugee assistance organization.

“For 50 years, the Faith has worked for the principles of economic development, the struggle of equality of women and men and the richness of diversity,” said Beatriz Elorriaga, councilwoman for cultural affairs.

India’s ambassador to Spain attended the Barcelona performance, whose proceeds were donated to the Bahá’í Education Institute for Rural Indian Women and to the ‎Vincente Vicente‎ Ferrer Fund, a local organization benefiting India. “More than the music, I loved the spirit behind it,” the ambassador’s wife said.

A highlight of the trip was the visit to Thonon-les-Bains and the apartment house (then a hotel) where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spent two weeks at the beginning of His trip through Europe 90 years ago. Choir members gathered for prayer in small groups in a park next to the building. Many were visibly moved by the bounty.

Triumph in competition

After the tour of the five cities, the group traveled to Wernigerode for the choral competition, July 5–8, where they competed in several categories with 40 other choirs from around the world.

The choir earned a gold medal in the folklore category with four gospel songs, including a moving “Amazing Grace” featuring Gilmer as soloist. For its entry as a mixed choir, the Voices of Bahá earned a silver medal with a secular program including three songs in German, and a spiritual program performed in the 12th-century St. Sylvestri church.

“I am very, very proud of this score” in the competition, Price told the choir.

Competition officials were so ‎please pleased‎ with the Voices of Bahá they were asked to sing in a special friendship concert at the town square. That performance ended with 800 people in the square waving, clapping and singing along with “We Are Soldiers in God’s Army.”

The musical journey ended with the choir singing at the Mother Temple of Europe in Langenhain, Germany, filling the arched passageways that surrounded the 800 seated congregants. Many in the audience wept openly while others had radiant and beaming faces. ♦

Above: The Voices of Bahá choir gives one of its two ‎performaces performances‎ in the 17th-century town square of Wernigerode, Germany, as part of its participation in the Second International Brahms Choir Fest and Competition.

Left: A poster advertising the performance by Voices of Bahá in Thonon-les-Bains, France, happens to stand in front of the building where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spent two weeks at the beginning of His travels through the West in 1912. Photos courtesy of Rebecca Motlagh.

Never let it be said one Bahá’í cannot accomplish much. Gita Baghdadi, one of the two Bahá’ís living in Thonon-les-Bains, France, had the responsibility of putting the finishing touch on preparations all alone. Her husband had surgery and was not released from the hospital until the day of the concert. The couple had formed a local organization to promote multiculturalism, and through this agency they enlisted municipal help. All concert posters were paid for and posted by the town. Fliers announcing the concert were delivered to every mailbox. A friend, a Roman Catholic priest, put announcements in his Sunday church bulletin.

To top it off, a negative article in a local paper helped prove that opposition always waters the seeds of the Faith. Despite sweltering weather, the seats in the sports hall where the concert was held were almost full.

The priest addressed the audience afterward commending the Bahá’í efforts. “Music brings us together,” he said.

—Rebecca Motlagh

Bahá’í International Community recent statements available on www.usbnc.org

Quotation from the statement to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, Aug. 25:

Quotation from the statement to United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, June 28:

“... the principle of the oneness of humanity exposes any attempt to distinguish separate ‘races’ or ‘peoples’ in the contemporary world as artificial and misleading. While racial, national and/or ethnic heritage can be considered as sources of pride and even a backdrop for positive social development, such distinctions should not become a basis for new forms of separation or superiority, however subtle.”

“The denial of equality to women not only promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that affect their families, the workplace, political decisions and international relations; it also contributes substantially to the spread of HIV/AIDS and retards the progress of society. ... Traditional gender roles that have gone unquestioned for generations must now be re-examined in the light of justice and compassion.”

[Page 36]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly or its agencies at the Bahá’í National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. Numbers and e-mail addresses for the permanent Bahá’í schools and institutes are: Bosch Bahá’í School, phone 831-423-3387; fax 831-423-7564; e-mail bosch@usbnc.org; Green Acre Bahá’í School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail greenacre@usbnc.org; Louhelen Bahá’í School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail louhelen@usbnc.org; Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, phone 843-558-5093; fax 843-558-9136; e-mail lgi@usbnc.org; Native American Bahá’í Institute, phone 520-587-7599; fax 520-521-1063; e-mail nabi@usbnc.org.

NOVEMBER

9-11: Family Weekend, “Following the Century of Light: Implications of the Five Year Plan” at Louhelen.

9-11: Two programs at Green Acre: “Expressing Creativity Through the Writer’s Art”; “Successful Self-Direction: Applying Bahá’í Principles to Your Life.”

9-11: “Arts in the Bahá’í Community” at Bosch.

15-18: Association of Bahá’í Mental Health Professionals conference at Louhelen.

16-18: Two programs at Green Acre: “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit” Ruhi Book 1 training; “The Greatness That Might be Theirs,” youth institute.

18-20: “Authenticity Project” at Louhelen.

22-25: Dr. Ghadimi’s Conference: “The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and other Holy Books” (Persian and English) at Bosch.

22-25: “Children: Functional Families and Caring Communities” at Green Acre.

22-25: Desert Rose Bahá’í School, Casa Grande, AZ. With Erica Toussaint and Barry Harper; Dan Seals entertainment. Special youth and young adult programs. Registrar: Ruby R. Jamshedi, (phone 520-424-9467), e-mail rjamshedi@aol.com, Web site www.mesabahai.org

23-24: Menucha Bahá’í School, east of Portland, OR. With Steven Ellis. Registrar: Lynne Nesbit, (phone 503-640-1925), e-mail lnesbit@worldnet.att.net.

30-Dec. 1: Two programs at Bosch: “Challenges of Single Parenting” and Young Professionals Conference.

30-Dec. 2: Two programs at Green Acre: “To Move the World: The Life of Louis Gregory”; “Striking a Chord in the Heart of the Seeker.”

DECEMBER

7-9: Two programs at Green Acre: “Clay into Crystal: Changing Habits of Thought and Patterns of Action”; “Yá Sáhibu’z-Zamán!” Junior Youth Institute.

7-9: Local Spiritual Assembly Team Development at Bosch.

7-9: “Expressing Creativity through the Writer’s Art” at Louhelen.

13-16: Bahá’í Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas, Orlando, FL. See page 30.

21-24: Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference, Hyatt Regency Downtown, Phoenix, AZ; theme: “Falling in Love With Bahá’u’lláh.” With Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Nosratollah Mohammad-Hosseini; Dr. Robert Stockman, director, Wilmette Institute; Dr. William Maxwell; others. U.S. premiere of the dramatic work “Reflections on the Century of Light.” E-mail grandcanyon@azbahai.com, Web www.azbahai.com. Special rates at conference hotel (phone 800-233-1234 or 602-252-1234).

21-25: South Carolina Winter School and Youth Retreat, Springmaid Beach, SC. With Jack McCants, Chaden Djalali, Adrienne Reeves, Anthony Greene, Carey Murphy, Angela and Karim Boyd. Information/registration: Doug Phillips, (phone 843-236-4700), e-mail dphillips@sc.rr.com.

26-30: Winter School at Bosch: “Comparative Religion”/“Mediation and Conflict Resolution.”

26-31: Winter School at Green Acre: “Copper to Gold: Personal Transformation and Powerful Teaching as an Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh.”

27-Jan. 1: Winter School, on the transformative power of prayer, at Louhelen.

JANUARY

4-6: Ruhi Institute Training Book 2 and Book 7, Part 1, at Bosch.

5-6: “How to Get from Here to There with Simple Dignity: A Seminar on Leaving This Life” at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL; sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Pompano Beach. With Pamela Solon, Maureen and Richard Hall and others; sessions on wills/estate planning; burial; death as a messenger of joy; other relevant Bahá’í teachings. Concurrent children’s program. For information contact Denise Godsey (phone 954-428-1114) or Joan Tavalero (phone 561-394-4340).

9-15: Pioneer Training at Bosch. Contact Office of Pioneering at Bahá’í National Center (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail pioneering@usbnc.org).

18-20: Seekers and New Believers Weekend at Green Acre.

18-21: Two programs at Bosch: “Racial Unity: Intermarriage and Raising Biracial Children”; “Dawn-Breakers.”

25-27: Two programs at Bosch: “Courtship, Love and Marriage”; “Understanding the Kitáb-i-Íqán.”

28-31: Texas Winter School, Greene Family Camp, Bruceville, TX; with Michael Sours. Contact Registrar (phone 254-475-1049, e-mail texwinter@aol.com).

URGENT NEEDS

at the Bahá’í National Offices:

• Office of Public Information: Director
• Treasurer’s Office: Accountant
• Meetings and Travel: Manager; Travel and Hospitality Assistants
• Bahá’í Distribution Service: Buyer; Business Office Manager
• Kingdom Project: Administrative Assistant

See page 26

Anibal Ybarra-Rojas, Linda Grundman and Antonio Ybarra-Rojas prepare for distribution of some of 13,000 “virtues crowns” by Bahá’ís at the Iowa State Fair in August. See story on page 10. Photo by Judith Griffin

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving The American Bahá’í, send all family members’ names, new address and mailing label to: Membership Office, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. If acquiring a Post Office box, your residence address (B) must be filled in. Please allow three weeks for processing. (This also updates the National Center’s database.)

A. NAME(S)

1. _________________________________ ID# ___________

2. _________________________________ ID# ___________

3. _________________________________ ID# ___________

4. _________________________________ ID# ___________

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS	C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS
Street Address	Street Address
Apartment # (if applicable)	Apartment # (if applicable)
City	City
State ______________ Zip code State ______________	______________ Zip code ______________

D. NEW COMMUNITY Name of new Bahá’í Community | Moving Date

E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER Area Code Phone Number | Name

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S) Area Code Phone Number | Name Area Code Phone Number | Name

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: [ ] We do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and ID number(s) listed above. [ ] The last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of family members as they should appear on the national records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY [ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, ID number and address above.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 LINDEN AVE WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849

NOVEMBER 4–DECEMBER 11, 2001 QUDRAT/QAWL • B.E. 158