From time to time the Spiritual Assembly issues statements on behalf of the local Bahá'í community on matters of current public interest or concern. These may be released to the media or addressed to official bodies seeking views. Some of these are now available on the community's Website at www.bci.org/bahais_of_derry and the Assembly hopes they will be of interest to other communities and perhaps helpful in their own external affairs / public information efforts. (Statements posted do not include routine press releases on activities, which are issued regularly and usually featured in local media.)
On October 7th 2001 Newtownabbey Bahá'í Community held a very successful fundraising event in the Springvale centre on Belfast's Springfield Road. Kamal Ma’ani, ably assisted by several members of the Ma’ani family, had arranged for a Bazaar, a lovely meal and some great musical entertainment by "the ZARB trio". The fact that the Zarb 'trio' numbers varied between four and seven did not detract at all from the lively mix of Persian and Irish music that had the audience rocking, dancing, and in one case, doing a very hazardous act involving the very unlikely use of a floor-brush. Butch Elliott of Cookstown did a great job as compere and at the end of the day we were able to count a grand total of £1500 to be split between the National Fund and the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland. Many thanks to the army of helpers and the guests who made it possible.
Newtownards community recently held a "FUN FOR FUNDS" event. We enjoyed soup and rolls with cheese followed by pudding and tea/coffee, rounding off the evening with singing, poetry and “craic”. £178 was raised for the National Fund. We would like to thank all the friends who came and made the evening such a success and such a lot of FUN!
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Friends gathered at the North-West's Unit Convention in Derry, October 2001 CE |