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National Treasurer's Statement
Presented at State Conventions 1960
Dearly Beloved Friends:
Last spring the entire American Bahá’í community was heartened by the fact that the annual statement for the National Bahá’í Fund showed black ink for the first time in many years. This included making up the substantial deficit for the previous year and was accomplished without using estate funds or interest on short-term government investments. This achievement resulted in the reinstatement of the reserve funds which had been almost entirely depleted by the deficits of past years.
This excellent result was made possible by the sustaining of monthly contributions at a level not too far below the monthly budgets, plus the receipt of several non-recurring, quite substantial special gifts. It was also in addition to substantial support by the American Bahá’í community of the Joint Deputization Fund.
The National Spiritual Assembly at the start of the current year had high hopes that this fine record could be continued without interruption, in view of the fact that we are approaching ever closer the climactic phase of the World Crusade. These expectations have not been fully realized to date, but the situation is not yet serious, and the National Spiritual Assembly urges that the following figures be given earnest consideration by every individual believer and be the subject of serious consultation at all Feasts and meetings of assemblies and groups.
The annual budget unanimously adopted at the last National Convention was $375,000, or $31,250 per month. This represented a decline of $25,000 over the budget adopted for the previous year. The pro-rata requirement under this budget for the period May 1st to November 15th is $203,125. During this period contributions from assemblies, groups and individuals have been approximately $138,250 (averaging $21,270 per month) and from special large non-recurring gifts approximately $36,000. Thus the deficit for the period is $28,875. Receipts from estates and bequests of $8,750 have only partially reduced this deficit.
Last year one of the reasons for the favorable final showing in the Fund was the fact that actual expenses were less than the budget because of several nonrecurring reasons. This is not the case in the current
News
JANUARY 1 961
year. Actually, expenses have been running quite close to the budget in total, and therefore the above deficit is a genuine one.
However, the most compelling fact for the friends to ponder with their hearts and their minds is the status of the Joint Deputization Fund. This Fund, set up two years ago to permit the Bahá’í communities of Iran and the United States to work in partnership in underwriting the vast flow of pioneers to Latin America and Europe necessary to fulfill the essential goals of our beloved Guardian in this World Crusade, now faces commitments unparalleled in their magnitude. The National Spiritual Assembly has at all times considered that there was no question that these goals must be met and therefore has sent out pioneers necessary to meet these goals as they have become available. It is considered that our commitment to these pioneers will continue for the balance of the World Crusade or until Riḍván 1963.
The annual subsistence requirements of all pioneers budgeted under this program, both in the field and on their way to posts, exclusive of transportation charges or other extras, is approximately $240,000. In addition, approximately seventy-five more pioneers are needed in Europe to assure the completion of the goals in that continent. We do not know at this time to what extent pioneers who will be selected for these posts, whether from Iran or the United States, will be selfsustaining. If all of them had to be supported by the Fund, the additional commitment could run as high as an additional $100,000 per year plus transportation charges. Thus we are facing a possible maximum charge against this Fund for the balance of the Crusade of up to three-quarters of a million dollars.
At the present time the Joint Deputization Fund con .. tains approximately $150,000. An additional $60,000 is
due this year from Iran to fulfill its total pledge for the year of $100,000. No definite pledge has been received from Iran after Riḍván 1961, and there is at least some question, due to financial stringencies in that country, whether support can be continued at the generous rate which has been provided the past two years. In addition, the extent to which we can count on support from the World Center is problematical. These statements are presented as facts for the most serious soul-searching. It is unthinkable that we should fail in the achievement of these goals of the World Crusade which bear so directly upon the climactic
event of this Bahá’í era, the formation of the Universal House of Justice. At the same time the successful accomplishment of these goals may require a financial outpouring unmatched in recent Bahá’í history.
The National Spiritual Assembly believes that this condition should be known and understood by the American Bahá’í community. We have the fullest confidence that whatever the challenge it will be met fully and unstintingly and with a joyous realization that never again will such a direct contribution be possible to the initial formation of a divinely guided Bahá’í institution.
Faithfully, —NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY Arthur L. Dahl, Treasurer
NSA Pleased with Response
to Call for Pioneers for Europe
The friends will be pleased to know that the call for 170 pioneers for Europe which appeared in the U.S. Supplement, Bahá’í NEWS for August, 1960 has met with a most encouraging response. With new enrollments in a number of the goal cities and the arrival of pioneers from Persia and various European countries as well as from the United States, the number of Bahá’ís still needed to fill the goals stood at fortythree on December 1.
Since all goals must be insured by March 1, any believers wishing to pioneer in Europe should communicate immediately with the European Teaching Committee, 418 Forest Avenue, Wilmette, I11.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
NSA Calls Bi-election
to Fill Vacancy
The departure of Ellsworth Blackwell and his wife Ruth the end of November to pioneer in Haiti created a vacancy in the National Spiritual Assembly to be filled by a bi-election by mail. The delegates to the 1960 Annual Convention were asked to send their votes by mail to the National Spiritual Assembly which appointed tellers to count the ballots and report the results of the election on December 20.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY ‘1961
Radio Service Committee Offers Scripts and Tapes
The National Radio Service Committee has prepared some excellent suggestions as to how local spiritual assemblies and Bahá’í groups may approach radio stations for securing free time. The committee has ready for distribution recordings drawn from the Holy Writings suitable for one-minute or one-sentence use. These “Thought-starters” or “Words of Wisdom” are available in three tapes as follows: No. 35 Tape with “19 Thought Starters,” one-minute lengths, identified with the Faith, for radio, $6.50 each; No. 36 Tape with ten one-minute “Thought Starters” and sixty-five onesentence “Words of Wisdom,” for radio and can also be used for Feasts, $6.50 each; and No. 37 Tape Series (3 tapes) with “Thought Starters” and “Words of Wisdom,” for radio, $3.50 each.
For full information as to how to offer the material to radio stations please write to the National Radio Service Committee.
The committee also offers the following radio scripts and tape recordings for special events as indicated:
For World Religion Day, January 15: Scripts No. 3, “World Religion” (25 cents); No. 5, “Birth of World Religion” (25 cents); No. 7, “What Is the Bahá’í World Faith?” (25 cents); No. 11, “A World Religion” (25 cents); No. 14, “Two Roads We Face” (25 cents); No. 30, “God's Plan for a United World” (35 cents). Tape Recordings No. 11, “A World Religion” ($3.50); No. 14, “Two Roads We Face” ($3.50); No. 20, “A Universal Religion” ($3.50).
For Bahá’í World Youth Day, March 25: Scripts No. 18, “Bahá’í Youth to World Youth” (25 cents); No. 34, “The Bahá’í Faith—A Magnificent Challenge” (25 cents). Tape Recording “Bahá’í Youth to World Youth” ($3.50).
For Naw-Rúz, March 21: Script No. 6, “New Life for the World” (25 cents). Tape Recording No. 19, “New Life for the World” ($3.50).
There is also available a complete catalogue of radio scripts and tapes at 20 cents per copy.
All of the above should be ordered from Mrs. Charlotte Keefrey, secretary; 2416 Waunona Way, Madison 5, Wis.
Marriages
Los Angeles, Calif; Mrs. Barbara J. Maloney to Edward C. Parker on October 1, 1960
Ann Arbor, Michigan: Mrs. Mary Veronica Clark to George Wellington Allen on October 1, 1960
BAHA'I DIRECTORY CHANGES
ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES
Louisiana
Shreveport: Mrs. Murletta Riegal, 153 E. Wilkinson St. Ohio
Mansfield: Miss Myriam Gr-abler, 244 S. Diamond St. Western Washington
Monroe: Mrs. Elizabeth Hazlett, Hallan Bldg., Apt. 1 Wisconsin
Wauwatosa: Mrs. Violet Johnson, 6824 Wells St., (new ad dress)
RESIGNATIONS FROM COMMITTEES
Asia Teaching Committee Mrs. Lorana Kerfoot
Temple Public Meetings
Mr. Ellsworth Blackwell Bahá’í College Bureau
C. Neal Brady ATC-Tennessee Valley States
Mrs. Eunice Shurcliff Mr. John Shurcliff
