U.S. Supplement/Issue 79/Text

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United Nations Day October 24. ‘1964

A Special Event for Prociaiming the Bahá’í Faith to the Public

Theme: United Nations and Justice for All

Suggested Materials: Materials from Bahá’í United Nations Committee. Pattern for Future Society and Bahá’í’. Peace

Program from 'Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

Reports: Good photographs and reports of outstanding meetings should be mailed at once to Bahá’í News Editorial Committee.

Treasurer Reports

Continued Deficits

During the first two months of the Bahá’í year, there was an encouraging number of large, special contributions. Seven individuals gave a total of $22,160.25, of which one sacrificial gift was for more than $10,000. However, disappointingly, there was little change in the total of regular contributions, in spite of the challenge of the Nine Year Plan and the presentation of the critical condition of the Fund at the National Convention. As a result, at the end of June, we had already sustained a budget deficit of $41,427.40. The figures are tabulated below.

May June

Regular contributions $31,324 $33,916 Special contributions 19,106 3,000 Estates and trusts 392

$50,822 $36,916 Deficit $13,761 $27,667

Of the 329 assemblies which are in existence in the current Bahá’í fiscal year, a total of 171, or 52 percent, contributed in both the months. 116, or 35 percent, contributed in one of the two months, and 49 assemblies, or 15 percent, did not contribute at all in the two months period.

As this is written, six weeks have passed since the budget message and the blanks ‘for the Resolve Plan

were distributed in Bahá’í NEWS. As of July 24, 1964, 90 have been received from assemblies and groups and 207 from individuals. The totals for these are distributed as follows:

Assemblies & Groups Individuals Total Total Range No. Resolved No. Resolved $ 1- 100 6 $ 514 96 $ 6,078 101- 200 12 2,180 44 6,707 201- 300 5 1,398 32 8,636 301- 400 3 1,103 7 2,561 401- 500 13 6,220 2 980 501- 600 12 7,080 6 3,570 601- 700 6 4,130 — 701 800 3 2,380 3 2,300 801- 900 7 6,245 — 901- 1000 9 9,000 3 3,000 1001- 3000 13 23,351 10 19,644 3001- 5000 1 5,000 1 4,000 5001- 8000 — — 1 7,200 8001-10,000 —— — 2 20,000 90 $68,601 207 $84,676

Bahá’ís to Have

Distintive Headstones

The Headstone Branch, Memorial Division of the Department of the Army, has notified the National Spiritual Assembly that henceforth the government will use the nine-pointed star on headstones and markers furnished for members of the Bahá’í Faith. This will be done at the request of the next of kin and at no expense to the individual or members of the family.

The star chosen by the National Spiritual Assembly for this purpose is of simple concave design with the center point upwards. ‘

This action is another happy step toward greater recognition of the independent character of the Bahá’í Faith.

U.N. Proclamation

Coming Soon

The U.S. United Nations Committee has again prepared some excellent materials for the use of the American Bahá’í community in observance of United Nations Day, October 24, and Human Rights Day, December

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10. The central theme, which will be the same for both events is: United Nations and Justice for All.

The committee will mail to the secretary of each local spiritual assembly a complete kit of information, suggestions and ideas for the planning of several types of programs and publicity. Bahá’í groups and isolated Bahá’ís who wish to take advantage of these two occasions for proclaiming the Faith in their communities may also receive these kits by sending their requests to the U.S. United Nations Committee. The address is: Miss Isabelle Silk, Secretary, 430 East 63 Street, New York 21, New York. There is no charge for the material but the supply of kits is limited, therefore they will be sent out on a “first come” basis.

Reports and photographs of these events should be sent to the Bahá’í News Editorial Committee within ten days following their occurrence.

NSA Warns Against

Association with Delmar Rooney

The National Spiritual Assembly regrets the necessity of warning the friends against becoming involved in any manner whatsoever with Mr. Delmar (Joe) Rooney who is using Nashville, Tennessee, as his most recent address. Mr. Rooney’s Bahá’í status has been in question for the past several years. He appears to have in his possession names and addresses of Bahá’ís throughout the United States.

SEPTEMBER ‘1964

NSA Urges World

Peace Day Observances

Of all the special events for proclaiming the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to the American public, World Peace Day, September 20 offers one of the most valuable opportunities for bringing the teachings to an ever increasing number of persons of prominence. Last year the Governors of more than twenty states issued public proclamations calling upon the residents to join the Bahá’ís in the observance of this particular occasion. It is the hope of the National Assembly that this number will be further increased this year by local spiritual assemblies or representatives of several assemblies adjoining the state capital seeking similar proclamations from those Governors in those states where this recognition has not yet been received.

Obviously, all assemblies who were instrumental in securing proclamations last year will repeat their request since such proclamations are issued for the year in which they are requested and do not become an automatic procedure in the Governors’ offices.

Last year for the first time the mayor of a major city, Baltimore, Maryland, also called upon the citizens of that community to observe World Peace Day with the Bahá’ís.

Bahá’í News, No. 392, November, 1963, carries an excellent report and many pictures of last year's observances and offers suggestions for the commemoration of this event.

Dedication Plus Imagination Equals Declaration

The stimulating challenge of the Nine Year Plan must inspire every individual Bahá’í and every Bahá’í Community to a teaching effort, in which dedication may be seasoned with imagination.

Regardless of our livelihood the Bahá’í Faith is our light and our life. We must share the light and love we have found in Bahá’u’lláh. And we can reveal what we have to share. This special report is a showcase of ideas, some novel, some new, intended to help all of us motivate our neighbors to the recognition of Bahá’u’lláh.

Celebrity Approach

Celebrities attract audiences. And in every metropolis or hamlet in the land there is a “VIP” who commands the interest and respect of fellow citizens. In a seaport city it may be a Navy captain, or even an Admiral of the Fleet. In a tiny town it may be the leading merchant, or the mayor.

Will they address a Bahá’í meeting? Yes. But the arrangement requires a touch of imagination. Suppose, for example, an upcoming event is World Peace Day. The Bahá’í Community may logically invite a Navy captain, an Army general, an Air Force colonel to talk on “America’s Contribution to World Peace.” His acceptance is almost a certainty. The higher his rank, the more cognizant he is of his obligation and opportunity to serve as a public relations agent for his branch of the Armed Forces. Obviously, the Bahá’í Community’s

interest in his subject must be genuine and sincere, and he must be accorded the welcome and response befitting an honored guest.

Your military celebrity will attract a crowd. Your assembly chairman, or your most eloquent Bahá’í teacher, can deliver the Bahá’í story.

Bahá’ís, too, have a vital message on world peace. It is different from the message the listeners will hear from the military authority. But his feelings will not be hurt. He knows that his preparedness for war is because not enough other people have learned preparedness for peace. He will be grateful to the Bahá’ís for the opportunity to tell the Armed Forces’ story to the public, whether attendance is a handful or a hallfull.

Fringe benefits, too? Quite a few! He may learn _a.

greater understanding of the Bahá’í military man’s request for non-combatant service. He may prove more cooperative in permitting firesides to be held on his military base. He may accept with interest and appreciation offers to provide Bahá’í books to the military library. He may accept Bahá’u’lláh! In any event, he is “news-worthy.” The local newspaper will accept a picture and story in advance of his talk, possibly print its content or even assign a reporter to cover the event.

In the less sophisticated small cities it is also possible that the radio and television stations may give advance publicity to his scheduled appearance or cover

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the talk itself in newscast coverage that can range from quotations on radio to fullscale filmed newsreel bit on television.

Perhaps your community is not near a military base —and perhaps your town is tiny. Now suppose, for example, that an upcoming event is Human Rights Day. Who should have the greatest interest in the citizenry of your town? The mayor, of course.

Unless it is election year the mayor may be less willing than the Navy captain to accept an invitation to speak, particularly to a small and politically unimportant group. But it is worth a try. The mayor might be intrigued by your invitation to address the public on “The Rights of the American Citizen.”

If not, try adding another plank to your ingenuity platform. Arrange for presentation of a “Distinguished Citizen Award,” or a “Humanitarian Award.” Enlist the cooperation of the newspaper editor, the university president, the Chamber of Commerce head, the radio station manager. Have them help you select some fellow citizen who has distinguished himself in some humanitarian way, or has made some notable contribution to community betterment. Buy an impressive little plaque. They are surprisingly inexpensive. Arrange for presentation of the award at the Bahá’í public meeting for Human Rights Day or a similarly suitable Bahá’írecognized event.

The mayor will find it difficult to refuse to appear at your meeting for at least long enough to pay tribute to someone designated by your newspaper, radio, TV or college heads as a distinguished citizen of his town. The mayor, of course, is even more newsworthy than the military leader. So the “award meeting” has a built—in appeal for the news media — a virtual guarantee that the Faith will win a mention in the print and broadcast media. It goes without saying, of course, that the Bahá’í chairman of any meeting highlighting the mayor or an award presentation will also feature the Bahá’í principle on human rights.

The World Is Yours

Bahá’í dedication to the unification of mankind may be proclaimed effectively in recognition of some of the Bahá’í Special Events Days.

Many U.S. cities, particularly ports of entry or border towns, have consuls of foreign lands. Consular chiefs and their aides are always alert to events of international significance or which accord recognition to their particular country. Written invitations may be addressed to consuls inviting them to a “United Nations Day Dinner” at which the food characteristic of their country will be featured, on a table adorned by the flag of their country.

If the consul agrees to be a “guest of honor” the society editor of the local newspaper should be so informed — and some member of the Bahá’í Community should speedily learn to prepare Swedish meatballs, or French onion soup, or Italian spaghetti, etc. Such a dinner can be a delightful and significant social event, warranting newspaper society page and TV newsreel coverage.

Such an event generally warrants rental of an attractive public meeting place. Attendance should be by personal invitation, and it will be found that non-Bahá’í acquaintances will readily agree to attend. The Bahá’í message, in the form of an official welcome and

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tribute to the honor guests, should be brief and of a flavor expressing “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

In cities where consulates are not located, a similar and in some ways even more effective approach, may be taken for your “international” meeting. Some modest research will provide names and addresses of the most prominent citizens in your city’s Chinese community, or among its Mexican population, or in its Scandinavian society, etc. Letters may be addressed to one or two leading families in each group, acknowledging their recognition as community leaders, and inviting their attendance as “guests of honor” at a picnic, garden party, or similar event. They should be advised that other families of varied backgrounds will be fellow guests of honor as the Bahá’í Community salutes them — and the occasion — on United Nations Day, Race Amity Day, etc.

Every effort should be made to feature a menu of an interesting international scope. Bahá’ís of other countries might elect to wear dress identifiable with their native land, but the “honor guests” may feel uncomfortable and on exhibit if such a request were made of them.

Here again is an interesting social event which, while offering a minor opportunity for a full-length Bahá’í talk, may accomplish more by fellowship, love, and by serving as a dramatic example of Bahá’í world citizenship. It has added significance at this time in view of the Nine Year Plan’s emphasis on taking the message of our beloved Faith to increasing numbers of America’s ethnic population masses._

The foregoing examples of Bahá’í teaching are adapted from actual successful case histories involving some U.S. communities where the teaching effort in recent years has been notably productive.

—T. FINLEY HOLLINGER, MEMBER NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE

In Memoriam

Mrs. Bonita Ali Chicago, Illinois May 16, 1964

Miss Anita Allegro West Hollywood, Calif. April 28, 1964

Mrs. Alma P. Anderson Los Angeles, Calif. June 12, 1964

Alvin J. Bair Chillicothe, Illinois June 5, 1964

Stanley M. Blakeslee Merced, Calif. May 26, 1964

Robert R. Brehm Woodburn, Oregon May 12, 1964

Mrs. Carrie Butler

New York, N.Y. May 23, 1964 Bahá’í since 1911

Gottlob Klumpp Middleton, N.Y. June 9, 1964

Mrs. Pauline Ludwig Huntington Woods, Michigan October 14, 1963

Mrs. Margery McCormick Wilmette, Illinois July 14, 1964

Frederick J. Nicolaus Milwaukee, Wisconsin April 26, 1964

Miss Mae B. Servais Chicago, Illinois June 11, 1964

Charles Shaggie Campe Verde, Arizona April 11, 1964

Miss Bijou Straun San Francisco, Calif. May 2, 1964 _

[Page 4]U.S. GOAL ASSEMBLIES AND GROUPS

The August Bahá’í News Supplement lists the U.S. homefront goals for this first year of the victories to be attained during the Nine Year Plan, and the first on the list is: “Raise to 360 the number of local spiritual assemblies, which shall include one in Key West, Florida, and one new assembly in the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Rhode Island, thereby raising the number of assemblies in each of these states to two.” The second listed is: “Establish at least one active group in Nebraska, North Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia . . .”

Listed below are tentatively selected groups to be raised to assembly status by Riḍván 1965, and five locations where a group must be established or strengthened. In addition, local spiritual assemblies are being asked to select goals for single or joint extension teaching projects. These may alter the original listing of preferred goal groups which will be revised as local plans progress.

The states marked with an asterisk (*) on the following list are those nine with only one local spiritual assembly. The ultimate goal is to have at least two assemblies in every state. The towns marked with a double asterisk (**) are locations where a strong group is to be established, with the future goal of assembly status.

Pioneers with dedication, courage and perseverance are needed to achieve the newly established goals. The same spirit of pioneering is essential in all localities 'on the home front.

• ARKANSAS ILLINOIS (S)

Little Rock Decatur CALIFORNIA (N) Qumcy

San J ose-Alviso *KENTUCKY

Jud. Dist. Berea

Stockton

Visalia M;;§;;I;;};:D

W§h:jutI$r:ek An unincorporated

u ' ls ' area in Prince

CALIFORNIA (s/1) Georges County

La puente to be chosen CALIFORNIA (s/2) MICHIGAN

Yucaipa Dearborn

Jud. Dist. J-'=‘°k5°n Kalamazoo

COLORADO

Boulder MONTANA CONNECTICUT Blumgs

Meriden *NEBRASKA FLORIDA Lin°°m**

Fort Lauderdale *NEw HAMPSHIRE

Key West B h Portsmouth

Pompano eac ‘

Sarasota County NEW JERSEY

Tampa Englewood

NEW YORK (E) Babylon Township

NEW YORK (W) Amherst Township

NORTH CAROLINA Burlington

• NORTH DAKOTA

Bismark**

OHIO Kettering Mansfield

• OKLAHOMA

Tulsa

OREGON Springfield

PENNSYLVANIA West Chester

SEPTEMBER ‘1964

• RHODE ISLAND

East Providence

SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville County

UTAH Provo

• VERMONT

Bennington**

VIRGINIA Augusta County No rfolk

• WEST VIRGINIA

Morgantown**

WISCONSIN Brookfield Township Oshkosh

-—NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE

ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES

With this issue of Bahá’í News is the first of the changes of Assembly secretaries, i.e. address changes, etc. We urge that all local spiritual assembly secretaries make regular corrections in their Bahá’í directory so it will be current at all times. This is important not only for assembly records, but in the event traveling Bahá’ís need information in order to contact the various Assemblies. Please watch each issue of the U.S. Supplement for these Directory changes. Also, please call this to the attention of your community so each individual member may keep his Directory up-to-date.

May we once again request all assemblies to immediately report to the N.S.A. any change in the office of secretary or secretary’s address, so it may be promptly reported.

BAHA'I DIRECTORY CHANGES ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES

Southern California District #1 Long Beach: Mrs. Patti Joe Lowery, 785 Termino Ave., Z 4

Southern California District #2 Santa Ana: Mrs. Ensley S. Ellis, P.O. Box 3091

Kansas Wichita: Mrs. Natalie M. Owen, 2009 Random Rd., Zip code 67214

New Mexico Clovis: (new secretary to be reported)

Oregon Eugene: Mrs. Janice W. Labib, 1458 Alder St.