CommuNIqué

Issue 55 - 14 Sultán 157 BE / 1 February 2001 CE


From the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland


Special Request

The Bahá'í Council requests communities to consider appointing a correspondent for CommuNIqué. The very existence of this newsletter is to share information of what is happening in all the communities throughout Northern Ireland. In order for CommuNIqué to be able to carry out its role effectively, it needs to have a regular flow of news from communities. It would be very helpful if each Assembly and Group could appoint a CommuNIqué correspondent who would send regular reports of activities to the Editor. When this person is appointed, please let Keith Munro, the Editor know his/her name.


Life Blood Report

We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving out for the good of our fellows undeterred by fear of poverty and reliant on the unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good--- this is the secret of right living (Shoghi Effendi, in Baha'i News, September 1926, p1)

On the 7th January the Baha'i Council for Northern Ireland met with Dr. Kishan Manocha, the Treasurer, and member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Mr. Farzin Yourtchi, the Financial Manager from the office of the Treasurer, at Hackney House for a consultation. They opened the meeting by congratulating the friends in Northern Ireland for their contributions to the Regional Fund; the target set for us last year to raise towards our budget exceeded the percentage set down by the NSA. There has been a sustained increase in the level of contributions to the National Fund since the crisis a few months ago, however this needs to be maintained if we are not to slip back into that situation again.

Dr. Manocha continued by saying that the National Spiritual Assembly expected that the Council would play a major role in educating the friends, and launching initiatives to help the community understand their role and the importance of giving to the Funds of the Faith. It would be also a part of the maturation of the Council in terms of its financial responsibilities. He asked the Council to estimate how much of their budget they thought they could raise for the next financial year starting on the 1st February 2001.

The Council then consulted at some length on the matter and decided that it would be possible for us to set a target of 60% to raise within the regional community for the budget that will be allocated to Northern Ireland. The Council will keep you informed when the National Spiritual Assembly has decided on our allocation, and while we are conscious of the enormity of our task, we know that the friends will display their usual initiative and rally round Last night one of the friends in Belfast Community brought some pots of homemade marmalade to the Feast which were quickly sold to the friends gathered there, and she raised nearly £20 for the Funds. Another friend is making Prayer beads the proceeds of which, also are for the Funds, initiatives such as these can aid the Funds, perhaps you have green fingers, then why not plant a few seeds extra for Baha'u'llah this coming spring and share the benefits of fresh fruit, vegetables or flowers with your community who are not so fortunate in the gardening department. We all have hidden talents so why not advertise in Communiqué if you could provide any service to the community, and help the funds at the same time.

In His service,
Pat Craig,
Treasurer, for the Council


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