The American Bahá’í/Volume 6/Issue 6/Text
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Bahá’í Community will participate in Bicentennial observance[edit]
Plans for extensive participation by the American Bahá’í Community in the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial observance are being developed by an ad hoc Bicentennial Committee recently appointed by the National Assembly.
Among the activities contemplated are well-designed exhibits and publicity campaigns in large metropolitan areas, and the development of a full range of proclamation materials for use by communities in purely local efforts.
Bahá’í participation in the national celebration will start with a full-page advertisement in the Bicentennial edition of Life magazine, which is to be on the newsstands around Labor Day. The ad invites Americans to visit the House of Worship, one of the Bahá’í contributions to the American nation.
Assigned to the Bicentennial Committee are Glenford Mitchell and Firuz Kazemzadeh, Secretary and Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly respectively; Russell Busey and Betty Fisher, manager and assistant manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, respectively; Eileen Norman, secretary of the National Education Committee; Joan Bulkin, secretary of the National Teaching Committee; William Geissler, secretary of the National Information Committee, and Beth McKenty, information officer for the National Information Committee.
Speaking on the Committee’s tasks, Dr. Kazemzadeh said the optimism in the Bahá’í writings about the ultimate future of this country provides an opportunity to express the Community’s interest in and hope for the nation. “Many groups are speaking of the Bicentennial in terms of the history of this country,” Dr. Kazemzadeh said, “but for Bahá’ís, the future holds great promise and our program should communicate this to the nation.”
The Committee has met in Wilmette on three occasions. Its recommendations are to be implemented by the National Assembly’s permanent committees, some of whose executives are represented on the ad hoc grouping.
Some of the projects approved by the National Assembly include plans for production of a series of radio programs and public service spots, a film, an ad for newspapers, a special Bicentennial issue of The American Bahá’í, and a Bicentennial issue of World Order for wide distribution to people in various strata of American society.
On assignment from the editors of World Order, Dr. Kazemzadeh recently spent several weeks in Europe collecting material for the special issue, which will look at the future of America from a Bahá’í perspective. Scheduled for publication in January, the magazine will be bound in an attractive hard cover for distribution. It will be used by the National Spiritual Assembly in a nationwide campaign to reach political, business, and intellectual leaders in America.
Bahá’í delegates attend Bicentennial interfaith conference[edit]
Representatives of more than 200 religions, including the Bahá’í Faith, gathered in Washington, D.C., May 21-22, to discuss the future of America and the role religion will play in its further development.
The conference, called Project Forward ’76, was sponsored jointly by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA), the government’s official Bicentennial planning agency, and the Interchurch Center, an interfaith group based in New York. Project Forward ’76 is the only religious event that has been scheduled as part of the nation’s official Bicentennial observances.
The Bahá’í representatives to this gathering were Elsie Austin, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly and a long-time pioneer to Africa, and Beth McKenty, information officer for the National Bahá’í Information Committee.
President Gerald Ford was represented at the event by ARBA administrator John W. Warner, a former Secretary of the Army. Mr. Warner brought a letter from the White House greeting the conference and wishing them success in their consultations.
“We speak with different spiritual accents,” said R. H. Edwin Espy, chairman of Project Forward ’76 and former secretary of the National Council of Churches, at the opening session. “We are not always understood by those who try to hear us. Let all of us in these two days together make ourselves known to one another in more than a casual sense. This is the only way we can truly know who we are and where we come from.
“We are a highly diverse body of religious leaders. It is a wholesome sign that we have come together. Our very presence here is a tribute to our deepening American tradition of religious freedom. It is not so long ago that some of us would have been afraid to meet in such a gathering—at least in public—afraid of reactions back home.”
An unusual gathering of bishops, archbishops, priests, ministers, nuns, and laity, the conference was divided into nine seminar groups to probe such questions as: In what way does my religious community sustain my spiritual life in today’s world? How do I understand the right to “pursuit of happiness”? and, Ethnic and religious unity and diversity: How do we manifest “E Pluribus Unum”?
In one seminar at which Mrs. McKenty was present, she was the only person not still affiliated with the faith she was born to, and was consequently asked to explain what the conditions were that led her to become a Bahá’í. At the end of the session the minister of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem approached her and said he liked to gaze often on the portrait of the “good old Bahá’í man” that had hung in his church for many years. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke at the Abyssinian Baptist Church during His visit to New York in 1912.
Participating in a seminar entitled “How do my
Improvements nearing completion[edit]
This photograph of the interior of the House of Worship shows much of the work of improvement that has taken place during the last year. New draperies for the auditorium and gallery windows were recently hung. It was the first change of draperies in the more than 20 years since the building was dedicated. The chairs in the auditorium have been reupholstered, the lighting fixtures cleaned and buffed, and much of the interior ornamentation cleaned.
Traveling teaching increasing among youth[edit]
With 15 months remaining in the Two Year Youth Program, the National Youth Office reports an increase in domestic teaching trips now being reported.
The youth plan launched at the Bahá’í conference in St. Louis in August 1974 calls for the completion of 500 teaching trips by Bahá’ís 15-20 years old. As of June 1, 295 such trips have been reported.
“We seem to have many more youth traveling to teach the Faith, and many more telling us about it,” said Philip Christensen, secretary of the National Youth Committee. He emphasized that some trips may still be unreported and stressed that youth must remember to report their accomplishments as they fulfill provisions of the youth plan.
Teaching trips lasting more than two months are apparently being scheduled at a slower rate than that necessary to achieve the goal of ten trips in two years, Dr. Christensen said. In the first nine months of the youth plan only three such trips have been reported. “In developing this goal, the Youth Committee was thinking that youth could devote an entire summer vacation to a teaching project, or a full semester or school year as an interlude to their studies,” he explained.
He also reported on the progress on other goals of the youth plan:
- As of 1 June, 34 out of the necessary 75 international circuit teaching trips had been completed. The House of Justice has called on the youth to play a major role in the teaching plans being developed by the International Teaching Center. Dr. Christensen pointed out. “This will require extensive planning on their part because of the costs involved,” he ventured. “The youth will have to begin well in advance to earn and save the necessary funds.”
- Interest in local clubs is increasing. Twenty-four of the required 100 have been formed. “There is a challenge in these clubs for the youth, that of figuring out how to fulfill the goals which have been set for them which are primarily social, recreational,
Pilgrimage to House of Worship called great event[edit]
A group of 30 Bahá’ís who visited the National Center, June 10-22, as part of a House of Worship pilgrimage, received an intensive introduction to the workings of the National Spiritual Assembly and the conduct of Bahá’í administration.
“It was a great event,” said Raymond Collins, manager of the Bahá’í House of Worship. “We have received letters from the people that took part in this pilgrimage and it seems that it was a significant experience for them.”
The pilgrimage began on Thursday evening with a presentation by Continental Counsellor Edna True, who recalled the early efforts to construct the House of Worship.
This presentation was accompanied by the showing of a film of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the United States, which included a segment on His visit to Wilmette to lay the cornerstone of the Temple. This visual record of the Master’s visit is stored in the National Bahá’í Archives.
On Friday morning Glenford Mitchell, Secretary of the National Assembly, made a lengthy presentation that touched on such areas as the significance of the construction of the seat of The Universal House of Justice, the functioning of the national committees, and the teaching plans of the National Assembly.
In the afternoon the group toured the National Center, visiting all of the committee offices, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust offices, and the Bahá’í Home for the Aged.
On Saturday, the pilgrims heard Charlotte Linfoot, Assistant Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, speak on the Administrative Order and the development of the National Assembly, drawing from her many years of experience in national administrative positions. They also heard a presentation on the Fund from Stephen Jackson, assistant to the National Assembly’s Treasurer.
The pilgrims later had an opportunity to view a videotape of a lecture by the Hand of the Cause Abu’l-Qásim Faizí on the education of children. The program was prepared with new videotape equipment purchased by the National Assembly in recent months.
More than 40 members of the National Center staff attended a dinner for the pilgrims Saturday night. Among the guests were the two secretaries of the National Spiritual Assembly and the members of the National Information Committee.
A tour of the House of Worship, which included the viewing of a slide program on the history of the building, was the first event Sunday morning. A tour for photographers was also conducted, to allow them to get shots from special locations. For lunch, the pilgrims were guests of the National Assembly Secretaries at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. Much of the discussion there centered on the National Assembly, its methods of operation, and its perceptions about many of the problems now facing the Community.
Pilgrims to the House of Worship in Wilmette gather for a group photograph with Raymond Collins, secretary of the House of Worship Activities Committee, (standing third from left, back row).
The next pilgrimage is scheduled for August 28-31. Other dates are planned for 1976. The August pilgrimage has been booked for months, Mr. Collins said. The groups are limited to approximately 30 people and hundreds have requested reservations for these special visits, he said.
The House of Worship Activities Committee feels these pilgrimages will become a regular function at the National Center, Mr. Collins said. “There is much here that people need to know about. There is much that is unique to this country.” Dates for 1976 pilgrimages will be announced at a later time, he said.
Traveling teaching increasing
(Continued from page 1)
- and devotional,” Dr. Christensen said.
- The goal for 51 youth conferences has been met.
- The goals of the program that require individual teaching must be given more attention. The growth of the youth segment of the community has not been very impressive during the course of the youth plan, Dr. Christensen noted.
- Only 25 of the 100 homefront pioneering goals for youth have been filled. In 20 cases the youth have settled in areas where communities were already functioning. The plan calls for the opening of at least 40 localities by homefront youth pioneers. Indian reservations can also use homefront youth settlers, Dr. Christensen said.
- Seven youth have settled at foreign posts during the Five Year Plan. Eighteen more must go by September 1976 to fill the youth plan goals. “The best way for youth to go pioneering is to go with their families or to attend school in foreign countries,” Dr. Christensen said.
- College clubs still need attention, he said. The goal is to have 350 functional college clubs in the country by September 1976. At the end of this school year, there were 245 functioning Bahá’í college clubs. “We must form more than 100 new clubs during the 1975-1976 school year,” Dr. Christensen stressed, “and that is very challenging. Bahá’í youth attending schools where there are currently no clubs must do everything in their power to establish one. That means they will have to teach the Faith until they have the required membership, and then they will have to make the necessary applications to the university. In addition, those clubs that are currently active will have to remain active.”
Bicentennial interfaith conference
(Continued from page 1)
faith and experience give me perspective on contemporary ethical dilemmas confronting our society.” Dr. Austin made the point that one of the important challenges of religion today is to see religion not in terms of theocratic philosophy but as an instrument for spiritual motivation to behavior and thought, which would place religious experience above sectarianism and dogma.
Throughout the conference, when delegates scanned the name tags worn by the two Bahá’í representatives, many comments were made showing some familiarity with the Bahá’í teachings, and usually, an attitude of deep respect.
Each delegate, as he registered, received a package of literature from various religious bodies participating in the conference. These packages included a copy of the spring 1975 issue of World Order magazine, a special issue devoted to International Women’s Year, and copies of two Bahá’í pamphlets, one on environment and one on human rights. A number of delegates expressed their appreciation for these items.
Throughout the entire conference, the longing of people to draw closer together in this difficult time was frequently expressed. In his concluding remarks, Dr. Espy said: “We are bound to all people of the world by our common humanity as children of God. We are united as American citizens in devotion and responsibility under God to the nation He has given us... we worship the God of the ages. The ground of our very being, the Creator of the universe, is the ultimate source of our unity. Our origin and faith in God far transcend our differences.”
“Our need at the threshold of our third century thus is not to redeclare our independence but to build responsible interdependence both among our own people and between the other peoples of the world. Both national independence and human interdependence are dependent for their viability on the grace of God, in whom all humanity is one. The only sure foundation for human community is the divine order, the eternal verities and values of the Creator of the universe ...
“We therefore declare our dependence upon Almighty God,” Dr. Espy said, “to Him be honor and glory, and to us may the grace of His love and truth and freedom and justice be ever present. May His will be done in the United States of America and in all the world.”
Elsie Austin
Beth McKenty
National Center closes for one-day cleanup campaign[edit]
June 19 was no holiday, but all the offices at the National Center were closed anyway.
Someone watching the Center early that morning as dozens of people in work clothes and sneakers gathered in small, excited clusters at different points on the property, might have suspected there was something serious afoot.
Well, there actually was. Virtually the entire staff had left their normal posts for one day to participate in a massive cleanup effort around the National Center.
Among the projects that were assigned to the roughly 70 people participating in the project were:
- painting the greenhouse;
- cleaning the galleries and the gallery windows of the House of Worship;
- cleaning the siding at 110 and 112 Linden Avenue;
- painting portions of the Secretariat offices;
- raking the large beach, removing the underbrush, and cleaning the banks along the lakefront property.
During the lunch break the entire crew got together for a picnic on the lawn of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
1. Scraping and painting the greenhouse. 2. Charlotte Linfoot, Assistant Secretary of the National Assembly, worked on the greenhouse. 3, 4. Some necessary ingredients. 5. A painting crew worked in the Secretariat offices. 6. Lunch was a welcome break for the entire staff. 7. Two members of the regular grounds crew, Jim Edwards, left, and Mark Harries, right, on their way to give recruits a helping hand. 8, 9. One of the day’s big projects was to clear weeds along the entire length of the lakefront property. 10. Workers received instructions on the use of garden equipment before starting. 11, 12. Old curtains were removed from the House of Worship and bundled for disposal.
Recent pioneering institute largest in history[edit]
The pioneer institute held June 12-15 was the largest since the institutes began in Wilmette in December 1970. Fifty prospective pioneers attended sessions for three days designed to assist them in successfully filling the goals of the Five Year Plan. Two visiting pioneers from the Cook Islands and Panama joined the pioneer institute for this group photograph.
Active college club has reached most of campus[edit]
The activities of the Bahá’í club at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City during the past year have placed the name of the Bahá’í Faith before a majority of the 25,000 students. During each quarter the club’s 25 members have sponsored a booth in a prominent location in the student union building. The booths were manned by club members; about 200 pamphlets were distributed; and books were sold. Students of varied backgrounds paused to inquire, and follow-up meetings were held on campus. Thousands of people saw the name “Bahá’í” repeatedly on posters placed around the campus on many occasions.
The club faithfully held dawn prayers every Wednesday morning which was publicized in the university paper; the meetings were open to the public.
Women in Mexico City receive World Order magazine[edit]
Approximately 2,000 copies of the spring edition of World Order magazine were sent from the National Center to the International Women’s Year Conference in Mexico City for distribution to the delegates.
The magazine contains a number of articles on women’s issues that make it suitable for use in activities during Women’s Year. It also carries reprints of documents prepared by the Bahá’í International Community on the subject of the equality between men and women.
The National Teaching Committee coordinated the shipment of the magazines to the Mexico conference, scheduled to run from June 19-July 2.
At the same time the National Teaching Committee urged that all Bahá’í communities consider incorporating this edition of World Order into their proclamation plans for the remainder of International Women’s Year, said Joan Bulkin, the Committee secretary. For example, Bahá’í communities could plan special mailings of the magazine to outstanding women in their localities, she said. A large number of copies of the magazine have been stocked by the Publishing Trust. They are available at special reduced rates for bulk orders.
Mrs. Bulkin asked that communities send reports of their achievements relating to Women’s Year to the National Teaching Committee.
Bahá’í choir seeks new members[edit]
The Bahá’í House of Worship a cappella choir recently held a performance in Foundation Hall to attract additional participants. The choir, which performs each Sunday in the House of Worship, has had trouble recruiting regular members. Grigg Fountain, the choir director and a professor of music at nearby Northwestern University, told the audience that the choir was limited by its small size in the arrangements it could attempt to perform. He urged the Bahá’ís to consider singing in the choir, even if they felt their voices to be imperfectly developed. “We will attempt to ennoble your imperfect voices,” he said.
Major wire service covers Faith[edit]
The very favorable article on the Bahá’í Faith which follows was written by George Cornell, religion editor for Associated Press. It has appeared in dozens of newspapers throughout the country, and has been reported in print as far away as Hawaii.
Written in the form of an interview with Dorothy Nelson, Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly and dean of the University of Southern California Law School, the article contains a clear statement about the attitude of Bahá’ís to the present condition of the world.
Since newspapers subscribing to Associated Press provide their own headlines for stories from the news service, a wide variety of headlines have proclaimed such aspects of the story as: “Bahá’í Faith Brings Message of Mankind’s Interdependence” (Laconia, New Hampshire Citizen); “Planetary Interdependence Has Become Common Theme” (Crawfordsville, Indiana Journal and Review); and “Bahá’í Faith Appeals to Many Young People” (Jamaica, New York Long Island Press).
Associated Press
NEW YORK—“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”
That planetary interdependence has become a common theme nowadays, and it’s a central credo of a religion begun in Iran 130 years ago and which now reaches into many countries, the Bahá’í Faith.
Its ideal of international government “is becoming more and more accepted,” says Dr. Dorothy W. Nelson, dean of the University of Southern California Law School and an officer of the National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís in the U.S.
“World conditions are forcing us to recognize it.”
As the first American woman to head a major law school, and for seven years the only one until last year, Dr. Nelson says the discipline of law and justice themselves point to the present need of an interlinked world system.
“Inevitably we are moving toward it,” she said. “It won’t be brought about only by Bahá’ís. The plan is of God. But humanity carries it along. It’s going to happen.”
“People are realizing increasingly that only through sharing will we be able to feed the world and solve the problems of the international economy,” she added. “Once we recognize we are one world, we can forget tariffs, forget boycotts.
“There would be enough food to feed the world if we just let those countries produce what they can produce best instead of competing to become independent and self-sufficient. Some kind of working international structure is the way to bring about world peace and the happiness of mankind.”
This vision of a cooperative world commonwealth was held up in the middle of the last century by the Bahá’í founder, Bahá’u’lláh, an Iranian teacher whose voluminous writings are regarded by followers as revelations from God.
“Oneness of humanity, oneness of religion, oneness of God,” goes a key saying.
The unitary goals stress equal rights and worth of male and female, equality of races, an end to nationalistic prejudices, the basic harmony of religion and science, universal education, and equal justice for all.
“The best beloved of all things in My sight is justice,” Bahá’u’lláh wrote.
He is considered the “manifestation of God” for this age, the latest of such manifestations in a long line of “progressive revelation,” including Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, and Mohammad.
“The same truths are reflected in all religions, but with advancing insights,” said Dr. Nelson, a former Episcopalian, who with her husband, Los Angeles Municipal Judge James F. Nelson, a former Presbyterian, became Bahá’ís in 1954, the year after they finished law school.
Dorothy Nelson
Although the group issues no statistics, estimates are that Bahá’ís now total 4 million in 320 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, including 70,000 in 1,100 local spiritual assemblies in this country.
“It’s spreading like wildfire among young people,” Dr. Nelson says.
Its national offices are at Wilmette, Ill., site of one of five typically nine-sided houses of worship around the world. Its top governing body is an elected, nine-member Universal House of Justice, in Haifa, Israel.
Performance designated Bicentennial event[edit]
Approximately 300 people attended a recent production of the musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” staged by the Bahá’í community of Wilmette, Illinois, as part of the village’s official Bicentennial observances.
The all-Bahá’í cast rehearsed for six weeks in preparation for their two performances, May 14 and 15. The characters in the musical were drawn from Charles Schulz’s famous comic strip “Peanuts.”
The performances were designated an official Bicentennial event by the Wilmette Bicentennial Commission.
The printed programs carried a welcoming statement from the Spiritual Assembly of Wilmette, as well as information about the Bahá’í Faith considered to be in the spirit of the Bicentennial event.
Green Acre program[edit]
Teachers for the weekly sessions at Green Acre Summer School are listed below. Special programs for children and youth will be provided throughout the summer. For more information regarding the program or rates, contact the registrar, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 189 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903, (207) 439-0256.
July 27-August 2: Douglas Martin, Secretary of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Albert James; Wanden Kane, Donald Rogers.
August 3-9: Hossain Danesh.
August 10-16: Auxiliary Board member Adrienne Reeves; Edward Carpenter, Beverlee and Edwin Miller.
August 17-23: Enric Sala; Jalil Mahmoudi, Florence Steinhauer.
August 24-31: Jamshid Monajem; Beverlee and Edwin Miller.
August 31-September 2: Special program — arts festival. Bahá’í artists will discuss their work and its use in teaching the Faith.
Wilmette resolution[edit]
A facsimile of the Wilmette resolution congratulating the National Spiritual Assembly on its 50th anniversary. Village President Warren Burmeister presented the resolution to the National Assembly at a public meeting in Foundation Hall on April 24. (See story on page 6 of the May issue of The American Bahá’í.)
News Briefs[edit]
San Felipe Pueblo governor Peter Johnson (third from right) stands with his wife and daughter and the Bahá’í delegation who visited him, outside his home. Bahá’ís Linda Cholas, Larry Gates, and Celia Gates are second, third, and fifth from the left, respectively.
Bahá’í delegation proclaims Faith to Pueblo governor[edit]
As part of an effort to proclaim the Faith to Indian leaders, a group of Bahá’ís recently visited San Felipe Pueblo, in northern New Mexico, to meet with its governor, Peter Johnson. It was the third in a series of meetings with pueblo governors; others had taken place at Isleta Pueblo in January 1974, and Cochiti Pueblo in July 1974.
The Bahá’í delegation consisted of Chris and Linda Cholas, of Durango, Colorado, and two believers visiting from Argentina, pioneer Larry Gates, and his wife, Celia, a member of the Mataco Indian tribe.
Their destination, the village of San Felipe, lies at the foot of Black Mesa on the south side of the Rio Grande. Its adobe buildings, some ancient, some new, are scattered along dirt tracks that meander from one end of the village to the other. Two important buildings in San Felipe are the church and the school. The governor’s office is in the small community center beside the church.
The friends were welcomed by the governor, who was attended by a tribal spokesman and translator, Joseph Ansera. When the Bahá’ís explained the purpose of their visit, Governor Johnson, through the translator, replied: “We want to thank you for this gift. We also are striving for peace and harmony of the people, and this is good that you would think of us.”
Mrs. Cholas, herself an Indian from Isleta Pueblo, presented a copy of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to Governor Johnson. The name of Bahá’u’lláh was new to him; he repeated it many times to learn to pronounce it correctly.
Mr. Ansera said he had heard of the Bahá’í Faith in his travels. “I found it very interesting and relaxing,” he said. He asked for and was given Bahá’í literature to study.
The Gates had brought a small gift for the governor to demonstrate the international scope of the Faith: a woven bag called a yica, which was made by Mataco Bahá’ís in Argentina.
Following the presentation of the book, the Bahá’í delegation was invited to the home of the governor for dinner. The meal included chili, San Felipe bread, fresh corn, potatoes, green beans, and watermelon.
The Gates were wished a safe journey to Argentina, and the Bahá’ís were invited to return in May for the village feast day, which they promised to do.
Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem.
Wisconsin Bahá’ís listen attentively to talks on family life
Wisconsin friends meet to discuss family life[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, were hosts for a conference on the Bahá’í family held at the Oak Creek Public Library, March 29. The 50 participating Wisconsin Bahá’ís heard talks given by Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem, Arden Lee of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and Janice Cockrell of Oak Creek.
Speaking on marriage and the education of children, Mrs. Khadem emphasized the importance of daily prayer and study of the Writings in the rearing of children.
Dr. Cockrell, who is a pediatrician, pointed out in her talk how modern psychology and learning theory have evolved to confirm what Bahá’u’lláh taught more than 100 years ago. Mrs. Lee demonstrated with a slide program how Bahá’ís are also members of a universal family.
Professional women guests of Bahá’ís[edit]
Black professional women and women leaders of numerous social service groups were among the guests of the Bahá’ís of Hempstead, New York, who planned a luncheon on April 15 as part of their efforts to commemorate International Women’s Year.
Addressing the group were Edward Carpenter, Headmaster of Harlem Prep School, his wife, Ann Carpenter, and Cornelia Williams, assistant director of the Department of Mental Health for the State of Connecticut.
Bahá’ís Waldo Bush and Bea Thomas present materials to library representative Nancy Swegan (center).
Library presentation in Toledo[edit]
To commemorate the Anniversary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, the Bahá’ís of Toledo, Ohio, presented three Bahá’í books and a cassette tape to the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. Receiving the books for the library was Nancy Swegan, who had heard of the Bahá’í Faith previously from the Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker.
Toledo Bahá’ís have also been successful in proclaiming the Faith through their local television station. They have produced several brief meditation programs for use at the open and close of the program day, which reach viewers in northwestern Ohio and southern Michigan.
[edit]
On April 5, the Bahá’ís of Wapato, Washington, sponsored what they called a “Culture Sharing Day,” at which representatives of diverse races and nationalities in the Yakima Valley were invited to set up displays at a bazaar and to provide, if possible, some form of entertainment distinctive to their cultures. The purpose of the event—“to give the people of our community a chance to come together in friendship and share with one another a part of their culture”—was well publicized.
There were eight displays at the bazaar which offered handcrafts and other wares for sale. More than 150 people attended throughout the day.
Particularly enjoyable were a number of traditional dances performed by an Indian family. Among others, they performed Thunderbird, Feather, and Rainbow dances.
Bahá’í float receives first prize[edit]
Thousands of people lined the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, as the first prize for the float competition in the Annual Dogwood Parade was awarded to the first-time entry of the local Bahá’í community on April 25.
A large globe was mounted on a pedestal which displayed the words, “Ye are the flowers of one garden.” Attached to the globe were flowers whose centers were photographs of faces representing the cultural diversity around the world. Riding on the float were children and adults dressed in bright international costumes.
Weekend retreat[edit]
The Spiritual Assembly of Brockton, Massachusetts, and the Bahá’ís of Foxboro, Massachusetts, held a weekend retreat in Foxboro between April 12-13 to study the Bahá’í writings. Bahá’ís from 17 New England cities and towns participated in the two-day event.
Display tells Bahá’í view on equality of women[edit]
The Bahá’í Faith was represented at a regional conference to observe International Women’s Year held in St. Cloud, Minnesota, March 20-22.
A booth sponsored by the St. Cloud Bahá’í community displayed posters, flyers, and pamphlets on the Bahá’í principle of the equality of men and women.
Nearly a thousand people attended the conference, which was organized by a coalition of women’s groups, and which featured as speakers prominent women from many parts of the United States.
Family life institute held at Bosch[edit]
Participants in an institute on “Improving the Quality of Bahá’í Family Life” sponsored jointly by the Spiritual Assemblies of Glendale and Pasadena, California, and held February 14-17 at the Bosch Bahá’í School.
Council fire to be held on Canadian border[edit]
A council fire of Indian Bahá’ís and those interested in Indian teaching will be held at the International Peace Gardens in Dunseith, North Dakota, on the Canadian border, August 22-24.
The event will be sponsored by the North Central Indian Teaching Committee, an auxiliary of the American Indian Teaching Committee.
Classes will be held for adults and children, and nursery facilities will be available. There will also be music and dancing and a crafts display.
There is limited cabin space, but areas will be available for trailers and camping.
Franklin Kahn, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board member Angus Cowan, from Canada, will be present at the council fire.
For early registration or additional information, write: North Central Indian Teaching Committee, c/o Mrs. Marian Kadrie, 1726 14th Street South, Fargo, ND 58102.
Spanish people attend Bahá’í picnic[edit]
On March 30, the Bahá’ís of Santa Barbara and nearby communities went to Guadalupe, California, for a picnic and proclamation. Many of Guadalupe’s Spanish-speaking residents attended, particularly the children, who took turns swinging at the piñata that was part of the entertainment. A Bahá’í talk was given by Marc Towers. The District Teaching Committee of Southern California No. 3 is planning more meetings in Spanish-speaking communities in the area.
Auxiliary Board member Paul Pettit.
Children at the Bountiful conference had separate classes during the day, but joined the adults for social activities in the evening.
Love and Fellowship conference draws Utah believers[edit]
Auxiliary Board members Opal Conner, Margaret Gallagher, and Paul Pettit conducted a Love and Fellowship Conference held in Bountiful, Utah, on Sunday, May 18. More than 50 Bahá’ís from Montana, Idaho, and Utah attended. The event was sponsored by the Bahá’í group of Bountiful and the Utah District Teaching Committee.
A special guest at the event was a visiting Counsellor from Southeast Asia, Dr. Iraj Ayman.
Discussion centered on winning the teaching goals of the Five Year Plan and strengthening Bahá’í institutions.
Tacoma Bahá’ís attend Love and Fellowship conference[edit]
More than 450 Bahá’ís attended a Love and Fellowship Conference in Tacoma, Washington, March 29-30, conducted by Auxiliary Board members Opal Conner, Margaret Gallagher, and Paul Pettit. The event was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Pierce County Commissioner’s District No. 3.
Counsellor Edna True, one of the principal speakers, sketched the rise and development of the Administrative Order in America from its very beginnings and spoke of the distinctive characteristics of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order.
An extensive report by the District Teaching Committee detailed the steps taken to implement the plans of the National Spiritual Assembly and the goals set for that area.
Answering a call for pioneers, 50 Bahá’ís volunteered to settle in foreign posts during the Five Year Plan. More than $1,000 was contributed for building the seat of The Universal House of Justice.
Pathways to service[edit]
Testing Your Career Planning Knowledge[edit]
By the National Bahá’í Youth Committee[edit]
How much do you know about career planning?
It’s an important subject, especially for young Bahá’ís. One goal of the Five Year Plan is for youth “to plan their lives to be of greatest service to the Faith.” The Two Year Youth program calls on youth “to learn a trade or profession.”
The following quiz, taken from one used in the American College Testing Nationwide Study of Student Career Development, can help you assess your knowledge of career planning. We are reprinting the quiz here with some additional comments, through the courtesy of the Institute for Community Development and Services, Continuing Education Service at Michigan State University and the Detroit Free Press.
For each question circle the answer you think is correct. Some of the right answers may surprise you.
| T F | 1. Most people have the ability to do well in any job if they set their minds to it. |
| T F | 2. Except for the income it provides, your job has little influence on your way of life. |
| T F | 3. The average American spends more waking time in work-related activities (including homemaking) than any other activity. |
| T F | 4. There is only one “right job” for you in terms of your ability. |
| T F | 5. Most persons remain in the same job throughout their adult lives. |
| T F | 6. The typical American will work in more than four different occupations during his or her lifetime. |
| T F | 7. Few women work outside of the home after marriage. |
| T F | 8. Apprentices are paid while they learn. |
| T F | 9. Over two-thirds of all existing job openings do not require a college degree. |
| T F | 10. Programs at 2-year community colleges are limited to students who want to transfer to 4-year colleges. |
| T F | 11. Entering an occupation is the only way you can learn whether you might like it. |
| T F | 12. The earlier you choose your life’s work the better. |
| T F | 13. Women now are working at jobs which were once held only by men. |
| 14. What will the labor force probably be like 10 years from now? | |
| A. Most jobs require 4 or more years of college. | |
| B. There will be a greater percentage of jobs for unskilled workers. | |
| C. There will be a greater percentage of jobs for those with technical skills acquired beyond high school. | |
| 15. Which one of the following is the best way to begin career planning? | |
| A. Look at what is available on the job market. | |
| B. Take tests to find out what you should do. | |
| C. Decide what it is you consider most important in life. | |
| 16. If you are interested in so many occupations you cannot make up your mind, you should first | |
| A. Try out as many jobs as you can. | |
| B. Try one and if you like it stick with it. | |
| C. Find out more about what each occupation is like. | |
| 17. Which of the following is probably the best way for you to find out whether you would like the work of a carpenter? | |
| A. Ask a counselor. | |
| B. Talk to a building contractor. | |
| C. Get “hands-on” experience through various adult education courses or work experiences. | |
| 18. You are now employed as a retail clerk and think you might be interested in a medical career. Where would you get some preliminary information? | |
| A. Look up “medicine” in the dictionary. | |
| B. See a counselor to find out what occupations are available. | |
| C. Review the “Health Service Occupations” in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. | |
| 19. You have been accepted by two colleges. College A’s costs are higher than College B’s. You cannot make a choice. What is the thing for you to do first? | |
| A. Make a list of what you expect to get out of college and compare the two schools that way. | |
| B. Choose College A and write to the financial aid office there for information. | |
| C. Choose College B because it will cost less. | |
Answers
1. False. Many jobs demand a mastery of specific skills; obviously this bars a large number of people who may never be able to acquire such skills from success in such an occupation.
2. False. People’s jobs may influence where they live, with whom they associate, what they do for recreation. Even more important, your job can affect your service to the Faith: who you teach, where you live, how much money you can contribute to the Fund, etc.
3. True. The average American spends a great deal of time either at work or in work-related activities. It is typical to spend more time at work than with your family or in relaxation.
4. False. Your abilities may qualify you for several jobs which may or may not be similar. In addition, it is more the rule than the exception that your interests will change during your life, resulting in different preferences in work.
5. False. The average person will change jobs at least six times during their lifetime. Frequently a change in jobs will require the acquisition of new skills and/or a need for additional training.
6. True. This is actually another way of looking at Question 5. Not only do people change jobs, but more frequently than you might have expected, people change occupations, in which they perform different functions for the same or different employers.
7. False. Many women continue to work after marriage; also, many return to the workforce after child-rearing. In 1971 there were 38 million women in the workforce, 60 percent of whom were married.
8. True. Apprentices are paid a percentage of current journeyman’s wages, making this a type of training which pays you, rather than the more typical instance where you pay for training.
9. True. The employment trend to 1985 indicates that as few as one-fourth of all job openings will require college training, despite the popular belief that “you need a college education these days.” You should consider your goals very carefully before undertaking a venture as long and expensive as going to college may be.
10. False. Community colleges now emphasize skill training for immediate employability, as well as academic programs. They offer a wide range of programs to all segments of the population.
11. False. There are a number of ways to determine whether you would like a particular occupation; reading, talking with persons in the field, and actual “hands on” experiences are among them.
12. False. Establishing a fixed pattern may not account for future opportunities and interests. Becoming too rigid may amount to “vocational death” or stagnation.
13. True. Ending discriminatory hiring practices enables a more efficient use of human resources, it also allows individuals to follow their own interests in a more fulfilling way. And it helps implement Bahá’í principles about the elimination of prejudice and the equality of men and women.
14. C. The skill requirements for jobs are rising each year due to advancing technology. While there will be numerical growth in almost all occupational categories, the proportion of people in them will change quite a bit. The greatest growth in proportion will occur in professional and technical occupations. Put another way, your chances of success are far better if you have a needed vocational skill, but this does not necessarily mean going to college.
15. C. Determining your desires should be the starting point; the other steps mentioned will add direction to this. This is a good time to pray, deepen, and consult with your Local Spiritual Assembly.
16. C. Good decision making is based on a broad range of knowledge, and there are many ways to get it. While gaining practical experience by actually doing a job is obviously very desirable, it is not always possible or practical. And when you have many interests, reading can provide much of the information you will need.
17. C. Having narrowed the field down to one interest, the practical experience of working as a carpenter’s helper is ideal. Or often you can find a course in adult education, community college, or life-long education programs that will enable you to get such experience without leaving your present job.
18. C. The Occupational Outlook Handbook will provide you with information which can not only help you make a choice but also help you determine the next step in the process. Another good reference is the Department of Labor’s Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Volume 1, which provides detailed job descriptions. Check your public library and, if possible, your school counseling service.
19. A. No two colleges are exactly alike; some will meet your needs better than others. An across-the-board comparison of curricula, composition of student body, faculty, and living conditions, will provide the base for a more satisfactory decision. Don’t forget the Bahá’í goals. One college may allow you to help form a Bahá’í club, fill a homefront pioneering goal, or teach the Faith to a greater number of people.
This quiz was sent to the National Bahá’í Youth Committee by an individual believer. If you have information, ideas, questions, or comments for Pathways to Service, send them to us at 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
Watch this series for more articles about planning your education and career.
Spanish section[edit]
Amatu’l-Bahá empieza un viaje a las selvas de Sudamérica[edit]
Unos meses pasados la Mano de la Causa Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum se despidió de los demás Manos de la Causa, de la Casa Universal de Justicia y de otros amigos que sirven en el Centro Mundial para empezar una visita prolongada al área del Amazonas del Sur. En una reunión celebrada en su honor, Rúḥíyyih Khánum hablo del viaje:
“El propósito de mi viaje,” dijo ella, “es visitar y hacer una película documental de tantas tribus indias e indígenas como sea posible, a lo largo del río Orinoco en la provincia venezolana del Amazonas y luego en las zonas altas del río Amazonas en Perú. Tengo el sentimiento profundo de que para lograr las metas de enseñanza del Plan de Cinco Años de la Casa Universal de Justicia, y en realidad, para cumplir las metas del Plan Divino que nos ha dado el Centro del Convenio, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, del cual este Plan presente es el tercero global a realizar, se debe ver que para la conquista espiritual del globo entero, se requiere una comprensión mayor en todo el mundo bahá’í de lo que concierne al pionero. ¡Cuán infinitamente hermosas y desafiantes son las oportunidades que tenemos en el campo de la enseñanza, y cuán urgente es nuestra tarea en este momento de la historia humana!
“Dos terceras partes de la gente sobre el planeta son aldeanos,” recordó Rúḥíyyih Khánum a los amigos, “y un tercio son analfabetas. Es esta vasta mayoría de la raza humana, aún relativamente a salvo de los males de una civilización materialista y ‘cancerosa’ que el Guardián, Shoghi Effendi, condenó tan enérgicamente en sus escritos hacia el final de su vida, que necesitan ser enrolados bajo la Bandera de Bahá’u’lláh, antes de que sea demasiado tarde.”
Rúḥíyyih Khánum explicó que no es su propósito visitar centros bahá’ís o hacer un viaje de enseñanza esta vez. La expedición comprende siete personas, cuatro de las cuales son fotógrafos profesionales. Sr. Mas’úd Khamsí, miembro del Cuerpo Continental de Consejeros Sudamérica, y la doctora Nosrat Rabbani acompañen también a ella.
“Es mi esperanza,” dijo Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, “que esta empresa, en conjunto con mi libro Un manual para pioneros, publicado por la Asamblea Nacional de India, ayudarán a preparar el camino para una vasta expansión en las actividades de enseñanza en todo el mundo y que muchos de los amigos, viendo estos esfuerzos, se animarán y dirán: ‘Si ella puede hacerlo, yo puedo hacerlo también.’”
Al terminar sus palabras, la Mano de la Causa pidió a los amigos de todo el mundo que la recuerden en sus oraciones para que la asistencia divina la acompañe en esta importante empresa.
Milagroso crecimiento de la Fe esta informado en Mauritania[edit]
La Casa Universal de Justicia ha recibido una copia de una carta escrita a la Mano de la Causa Enoch Olinga por un pionero en Mauritania, informando sobre los resultados de la reciente visita del Sr. Olinga allí:
“Le envío un informe del trabajo de enseñanza que fue iniciado por usted durante su reciente visita a Mauritania. Después de que Ud. se marchó, unas cien personas aceptaron la Fe y en el momento presente tenemos cinco Asambleas Locales y unos doscientos creyentes. Entre los nuevos creyentes hay unos cuantos Mauros (los habitantes blancos del Sahara) y unas cuantas docenas de mujeres. Sólo unos meses atrás, el país tenía escasamente una docena o más bahá’ís y una Asamblea Local. Este progreso milagroso nos ha sorprendido a todos. El grupo que salió de Rosso para enseñar la fe, estamos seguros de que volverá con buenos resultados. Dentro de poco el Plan de Cinco Años estará completado, igracias a su esfuerzo!”
El papel de la Asamblea Local en mejorando la calidad de la vida bahá’í[edit]
Extracto de una carta de la Casa Universal de Justicia a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de los bahá’ís de África del Sur y del Oeste, 3 de abril 1974:
“Concerniente la pregunta de cómo encontrar unas maneras de consolidar el trabajo que ustedes ya han realizado y de reforzar las bases actuales; como lo expone claramente nuestro mensaje general al mundo bahá’í, la actividad vital que enriquecerá la calidad de la vida bahá’í es el fortalecimiento de Asambleas Locales, porque en esta institución—actuando en el primer nivel de la sociedad humana—se encuentra la mejor oportunidad para fomentar el crecimiento seguro y sano de la comunidad bahá’í. En otras palabras, por muy eficiente que sea la Asamblea Nacional y su personal, por muy diligentemente que funcionen los comités nacionales, es solamente cuando las Asambleas Espirituales Locales empiezen a operar vigorosamente que una firme base interna puede ser proveída de la cual se puede llevar adelante el Mensaje Divino.
“Cuando ustedes revisen las metas y tareas contempladas en el Plan de Cinco Años podrán ver fácilmente que muchas de ellas han sido formuladas teniendo en mente el fortalecimiento de las Asambleas Espirituales Locales. Por ejemplo el permiso de formar Asambleas Locales por primera vez en el transcurso del año tan pronto que el número de los creyentes residentes es adecuado; la necesidad de cada Asamblea Local de recibir o estar estimuladas en adoptar sus propias metas locales; la adquisición de Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds y dotaciones locales; la asignación de metas de enseñanza de extensión a comunidades locales; la necesidad del entrenamiento de uno o más creyentes de cada comunidad local; el estímulo de actividades juveniles; la iniciación de proyectos para mujeres; la invitación a los amigos de reunirse para oraciones y breves pasajes de las Escrituras; realizar conferencias y el enriquecimiento y uso más amplio de la literatura bahá’í, estas y otras actividades que proyectarán la iniciativa e ingeniosidad de cada Asamblea Nacional contribuirán juntas a la profundización y consolidación de los fundamentos existentes, y la expansión sólida y sana anticipada confiadamente en el Plan.”
Bahá’ís asisten a la Conferencia de Alimentación Mundial[edit]
La Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í estuvo representada por el Sr. Ezzat Zahrai y la Sra. Manuela Fanti en la Conferencia de Alimentación Mundial de las Naciones Unidas, celebrada en Roma, Italia, del 5 al 16 de noviembre pasado.
Informando sobre la conferencia, los representantes bahá’ís explicaron que la primera edición de unas 2,000 copias (en tres idiomas) del comunicado escrito expresando la posición bahá’í fue repartida entre los delegados y asistentes.
El informe también dice que “un sinnúmero de los delegados de organizaciones no gubernamentales conocen algo sobre la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í... y muchos de los delegados de organizaciones religiosas parecen estar de acuerdo con el punto de vista bahá’í, en cuanto a la necesidad de nuevas normas morales.”
El comunicado bahá’í insiste sobre el hecho de que las soluciones efectivas al problema de la alimentación mundial deben estar basadas en el reconocimiento de la unidad orgánica de la humanidad y una actitud de educación y trabajo que estará al servicio no solo de nuestros compatriotas, sino de la humanidad en general. El informe expresa también la necesidad de una educación universal obligatoria, el desarrollo de oportunidades, derechos y privilegios iguales para hombres y mujeres como una etapa hacia la eliminación de prejuicios y, destaca que la ciencia y la religión son una realidad “relacionadas respectivamente con la existencia física de la humanidad y los valores que le dan un sentido.” La comprensión de este principio traerá como resultado una producción de alimentos mayor y de mejor calidad y ayudará a fomentar el uso de nuevos comestibles, distintos y nutritivos. En conclusión, el informe manifiesta que la agricultura debe reconocerse como una ocupación humana vital y debe concebirse como una labor noble y estimable, disminuyendo así el éxodo de las zonas rurales a las zonas urbanas.
Maravilloso espíritu de dedicación visto en jóvenes[edit]
Queremos destacar un hecho que demuestra el maravilloso espíritu de dedicación de nuestros jóvenes a la Causa de Dios.
Al regresar de Galicia, España, donde la gran labor realizada ya ha comenzado a dar positivos logros, y en las cercanías de Luarca, en la provincia de Oviedo, uno de los automóviles en el que viajaban cuatro jóvenes, debido al estado muy resbaladizo de la carretera y pese a conducir a una prudente velocidad, colisionó con un camión que marchaba en dirección contraria, quedando cruzados en la carretera. Un automóvil de turismo que venía tras ellos, al no poder frenar, los lanzó fuera de la calzada por un terraplén de bastante altura. De forma providencial el automóvil quedó detenido a los pocos metros y los jóvenes fueron trasladados rápidamente al hospital de Luarca, para ser atendidos de las lesiones que presentaban, ya que el joven que las acompañaba resultó ileso y pudo así ayudar mejor a sus compañeras de viaje.
Podemos suponer la situación de las jóvenes bahá’ís heridas, en un lugar totalmente desconocido para ellas y sin conocer la importancia que pudieran tener las lesiones sufridas en el aparatoso accidente. Más pronto la oración trajo la serenidad a sus espíritus y olvidando sus sufrimientos físicos, sólo pensaron en la oportunidad de dar a conocer la fe. Sin descanso, estas valerosas jóvenes dieron el Mensaje a las enfermeras, médicos, monjas y a todo el personal que acudía a visitarlas, intrigados al recoger las hojas de propaganda del Curso por correspondencia bahá’í, que el viento había esparcido por los alrededores del lugar del accidente.
Así se hizo realidad la frase de Bahá’u’lláh: “La calamidad que te doy es Mi providencia,” pues de este modo todo el pueblo supo del Mensaje bahá’í, con el magnífico ejemplo que les dieron tres débiles jóvenes, fortalecidas por la gran ayuda espiritual del Reino de Abhá...
- (Sacado del Boletín de información bahá’í de España de mayo 1975).
Dates to remember[edit]
June 30-August 10 Teaching project in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Sponsored by the National Youth Committee and the Spiritual Assembly of Olmsted County.
July 1 Deadline for receipt of materials for August issue of The American Bahá’í.
July 7-August 17 Chicago Teaching project. Sponsored by the National Youth Committee and the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago.
July 12-13 and each weekend thereafter through August 30-31, Summer Teaching Project, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
July 13 Feast of Kalimát (Words)
July 14-20 Clear Creek Teaching Institute, Clear Creek, Nevada. Sponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Northern Nevada.
July 19 “Areas of Service” Conference, Baltimore, Maryland. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Baltimore.
July 21-25 Institute on Bahá’í Family Life and the Covenant, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.
August 1 Feast of Kamál (Perfection)
August 1 Deadline for receipt of materials for September issue of The American Bahá’í.
August 1-31 Los Angeles teaching project. Sponsored by the National Youth Committee and the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles.
August 2-17 Eastern Colorado teaching project. Sponsored by the National Youth Committee and the Eastern Colorado District Teaching Committee.
August 3-15 National Bahá’í Center Work/Study project. Sponsored by the National Bahá’í Youth Committee.
August 8 Proclamation, Hollywood, California. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Hollywood.
August 10-23 Hamburg, New York teaching project. Sponsored by the National Youth Committee and the Spiritual Assembly of Hamburg.
August 16-17 Proclamation, Rittman, Ohio. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Akron.
August 20 Feast of Asmá’ (Names)
August 21-24 Pioneer Training Institute. (By invitation only.)
August 22-24 National Spiritual Assembly meeting.
Five Year Plan discussed[edit]
A conference held May 10-11 in Iowa City attracted Bahá’ís from several states to improve their “understanding of the spiritual force available in the Five Year Plan.” Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Iowa City in cooperation with the Auxiliary Board, the conference offered talks by Auxiliary Board members Darrell Borland and Javidukht Khadem and by Philip Christensen, secretary of the National Youth Committee. On Saturday evening Bahia Mitchell of Wilmette, Illinois, spoke at a public meeting on the University of Iowa campus held in observance of International Women’s Year.
Positions at National Center[edit]
Immediate openings have developed at the National Bahá’í Center for those trained as executive secretaries. Required skills include fast, accurate typing; good shorthand; knowledge of filing systems; ability to compose letters and administrative experience within the Faith. Applicants should have a minimum of three years’ experience. If you qualify, please send your resume and letter of recommendation from your Local Spiritual Assembly to: Personnel Affairs Assistant, National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
Assemblies hold seminar[edit]
Bahá’ís from the Atlanta area participated in a seminar designed to increase the effectiveness of Local Spiritual Assemblies, March 22-23, at Emory University, sponsored by the Cobb County North Spiritual Assembly.
The thrust of the two-day session was toward improving skills in consultation on Assemblies and Bahá’í committees and the setting of achievable goals. The seminar was limited to members of the six Atlanta area Assemblies, the Northern Georgia District Teaching Committee, and the Georgia Bahá’í Information Service.
Continental Counsellor Velma Sherrill, who works professionally as a business consultant, and Auxiliary Board member Jane Faily, a clinical psychologist at the University of North Carolina, were present to help the Bahá’ís gain a clearer understanding of the purpose of consultation.
Larry Miller, president and director of research and development at Behavioral Systems, Inc., a firm which trains executives to handle business more efficiently, conducted the sessions. Assembly members were guided to identify statements in consultation which were irrelevant, repetitious, or had an emotional content which disrupted the flow of consultation.
A mock Assembly modeled the kinds of statements and responses which could aid the flow of consultation and decision making and those which could hinder it.
Devotions at state borders[edit]
On May 17 the Spiritual Assembly of Durango, Colorado, sponsored a unity feast at the Four Corners monument near Durango—the point at which the boundaries of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico converge. About 30 Bahá’ís and their friends from 10 communities joined in prayers for the rapid expansion of the Faith in the Southwest.
BAHA’Í BOOKS AND MATERIALS[edit]
SPECIAL MATERIALS[edit]
Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration
of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States
If you are interested in the development of Bahá’í institutions in the United States—the cradle of the Administrative Order—you won’t want to miss this important new cassette recording. The tape features highlights of presentations made in Foundation Hall on April 24 and 26, 1975, on the historic occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary celebration of the National Spiritual Assembly. Included are inspiring addresses by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and a tribute to the Bahá’ís by the President of the Village of Wilmette. 60 minutes.
6-30-62 cassette..........$3.75
1975 National Bahá’í Convention Highlights
Would you like to hear what was said at the recent National Bahá’í Convention? This tape features highlights of talks, comments, and messages presented at the convention, including talks by Hand of the Cause Mr. William Sears and Continental Counselors Miss Edna True and Dr. Sarah Pereira. 90 minutes.
6-30-53 cassette..........$3.75
1975 National Bahá’í Convention/
Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration
When purchased together, these recordings are available at a reduced price.
6-30-63 two cassettes..........$6.00
The Education of Henry Halifax
written by Mildred N. McClellan
This delightful musical comedy focuses on the spiritual struggles and triumphs of a Bahá’í youth—Henry Halifax. In the play, Henry becomes a Bahá’í and then, guided by his tactful friend Harriet, learns how to live according to the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh. The story and music are a stunning success, as evidenced by the laughter and enthusiastic applause at this performance. Recorded at the Third National Bahá’í Youth Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in June, 1973. 90 minutes.
6-30-83 cassette..........$3.75
BAHÁ’Í LITERATURE[edit]
Analysis of the Five Year
International Teaching Plan, 1974-1979
By The Universal House of Justice
A four-part analysis of the Five Year Plan. Parts I, II, and III list the major objectives of the Five Year Plan, the World Center goals, and general aims and guidelines for the Bahá’í World Community. Part IV, the largest section, summarizes specific goals assigned to National Spiritual Assemblies. 103 pp.
7-68-25 paper..........$2.00
Shrine of the Báb Photo
A beautiful color photograph of the Shrine of the Báb—“the Spot round which the Concourse on high circle in adoration”—is now available. (See picture at right.) Two sizes, suitable for framing. A handsome decoration for home, children’s rooms, Bahá’í Center, or office.
6-76-70 8 x 10 inches..............$2.50
6-76-71 11 x 14 inches...........$4.50
Mansion of Mazra‘ih Photo
A beautiful color photograph of the Mansion of Mazra‘ih is also available. (See picture at right.) Mazra‘ih is the place where Bahá’u’lláh first lived after nine years of imprisonment in ‘Akká. Two sizes, suitable for framing.
6-76-72 8 x 10 inches................$2.50
6-76-73 11 x 14 inches...............$4.50
International Women’s Year—Time Is Running Out[edit]
With International Women’s Year now more than half over, many Bahá’ís have yet to take full advantage of this ideal opportunity to draw attention to the Bahá’í Teachings on the equality of men and women. Don’t delay any longer! Why not make plans now to present Bahá’í literature on this important teaching to interested persons or organizations in your area? Use the following descriptions to help determine which of the materials best meets your needs. Your local Bahá’í Librarian may already have these titles in stock, but if not, he or she will be happy to order for you.
World Order Magazine
Spring 1975
The Spring 1975 issue of World Order makes an impressive addition to any International Women’s Year teaching effort. The sixty-page, illustrated magazine features an editorial on the equality of men and women, a number of documents prepared by the Bahá’í International Community, and a thought-provoking review essay of a number of antifeminist books. The issue can be presented to local dignitaries, the clergy, women’s groups, libraries, schools, and editors as well as to friends and relatives. Attractive bright blue and green cover. Prices as low as $.75 per copy in lots of 100.
0-50-93.........1/$1.60; 10/$13.00; 25/$27.50; 50/$45.00; 100/$75.00 (all prices NET)
Women: Striking the Balance
One of six illustrated World Order editorial posters, Women: Striking the Balance examines the role women will eventually play in bringing about world order. Includes quotations from the Writings. Can be used as a poster or folded and distributed as a pamphlet. Yellow. 8½ x 11 inches.
7-40-89..........20/$2.00
Equality of Men and Women: A New Reality
This new pamphlet, prepared by the Bahá’í International Community, discusses the Bahá’í position on the equality of men and women, explaining that equality is necessary for the “unification of the planet and the unfoldment of world order.” It uses many quotations from the Bahá’í Writings which emphasize the need for unity and equality in the family and for equality in education and training. It also stresses the major role women will play in the abolition of war and explains how Bahá’í community life works to bring about the equality of men and women. Equality of Men and Women: A New Reality is ideal for use during International Women’s Year. Fits easily in No. 10 envelope. Printed in blue ink on light blue stock. 8⅓ x 3½ inches.
7-40-74..........10/$1.00; 100/$9.00
Women: Attaining Their Birthright
By Constance Conrader
Unlike the other International Women’s Year materials listed, Women: Attaining Their Birthright recounts the history of the struggle for women’s rights, with particular emphasis on the momentous happenings of the nineteenth century. In addition, the booklet provides an excellent summary of Bahá’í teachings on the station of women and of the equality of the sexes and features many quotations from the Writings, a number from sources no longer in print. Recommended for deepening as well as teaching. Attractive purple and rose cover design by Scott Bivans. Reprinted from World Order, 6, no. 4 (Summer 1972). Slimline format. 33 pp.
7-40-73.........$.35; 10/$3.25
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National Center closes for one-day cleanup campaign, page 3 |
