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Bring a Friend to Green Acre this year!

November 7-9 The Power of Prayer with Nina Dini

"Should anyone arise for the triumph of Our Cause, him will God render victorious though tens of thousands of enemies be leagued against him..." (Baha’u’llah, cited in The Advent of Divine Justice p.82) The participants will explore the Sacred Writings, tales of heroism of the early believers and the power of prayer in order to overcome fear and to build confidence as teachers of the Cause of God. Together we will explore what we really know about the power of prayer. What wereally believe about the power of prayer. Can an Insignificant me really be victorious? Will Baha’u’llah really help me? See, learn and experience how prayer is at the heart of teaching. (Includes classes for ages 3 - 10)

Nina Dini: I am a mother of two sons, Vesal and Riaz, and have been married for 33 years.  My husband and I came to the U.S from Iran in 1977 when my older son Vesal was 6 months old. I have been teaching at Springfield College since 1989 as an associate professor in computer information sciences. I served on the Regional Baha’i Council of the Northeastern states from 1997 to 2001, as Auxiliary Board member for propagation during the first Five Year Plan (2001-2006) and am currently serving on the Regional Baha’i Council of the Northeastern states.

November 7-9  Badasht Prep: For middle school students

curently in grades 6 - 8, with Joel and Vickie Nizin

Badasht Prep, in its fourth year, is offered for middle school students mainly from the Northeast. Excerpts from The Dawn Breakers, and other seminal texts will be read aloud, followed by artistic, devotional, dramatic and other creative activities. Discussion will relate the stories of the heroes and heroines of the Faith to modern day life. The facilitators will be youth who have experience with the Badasht Academy and Badasht Prep, and guidance from members of the Regional Bahá’í Council for the Northeastern States. Space is limited – sign up early, please. All Attendees will be housed with the counselors. There will be a closed-campus policy. Weekend fee: $129 (20% discount for second child from same family. No other discounts apply.)

Joel & Vickie Nizin are members of the Regional  Baha'i Council of the Northeastern States. They are engaged in many aspects of teaching including Ruhi, courses at Green Acre, service to youth and junior youth and service abroad. Vickie, a Baha'i since age 17, is a lactation consultant; Joel is a colon surgeon. They have two wonderful daughters, Zia and Anisa. 

November 14-16 Louis G. Gregory, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X

and Baha'i Perspectives on Race with George Karamallis

Explore the life and work of Louis G. Gregory, his decision to promote the Baha’i perspectives on race as the solution to the problem of racial prejudice in America, and his role as a predecessor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Then examine the lives and works of Dr. King and Malcolm X, and compare their approaches to the achievement of racial equality to Baha’i perspectives. The statements of each of these great men will be cross-referenced to the Baha’i writings and to the statements of two Baha’i institutions - the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.

George Karamallis has had a deep interest in race relations in the United States since he was mistaken for a black youth in high school and attacked as a result. His best friend joined the Black Panthers, while George chose to study black literature as an English major in college. Later, with the encouragement of Nathan Rutstein, civil rights activist and author of Healing Racism in America, George began teaching local youth about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X, motivated by a sense that their ideas were not being accurately portrayed in the schools. His passion for the topic brings him to Green Acre to share his knowledge and insights.

November 14-16

Youth Weekend - Baha’i Identity - Merging Two Lives Into One - For Youth 15-18 with Sanam Hakim & Jubin Karimi

This session deals primarily with the issue of merging your Baha’i life with your non-Baha’i life. Main topics include learning to vocalize concerns and struggles, dealing with regret, and subtle yet direct ways of teaching the Faith to your peers. Through presentation materials, interactive exercises, and open dialogue, we will learn how to find a comfortable way to merge our two lives into one Baha’i Identity that we may offer in service to the core activities.

Sanam Hakim graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in journalism and English. For the past two years, she has been working in finance, but hopes to return to her original path of secondary education. She has served on the Youth Service Corps at Green Acre Baha'i School several times and hasn't stopped coming back.

Jubin Karimi is a future student at Ross University medical school and holds a bachelor’s of science in biology. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts, and is a Baha’i Sunday school teacher for junior youth at the Boston Baha’i center.

November 21-23

Persian Weekend

Behrouz Jabbari

Persians Conference Persian friends of all ages are invited to a weekend of spiritual transformation and rejuvenation.Focusing on Baha’i literature and poetry, Mr. Jabbari will explain the principles of Baha’i consultation and individual initiative in the context of the Five Year Plan. The program includes inspirational talks, informative workshops, stimulating discussions, devotional periods and artistic performances. (Includes classes for ages 3-14.)

Behrouz Jabbari is a retired engineer and financial analyst in Canada.  Since childhood he has had an intense interest in literature and poetry and has published extensively including:

• A compilation of poems by the Baha’i martyr Varqa
• A compilation of poems by Fath-i-Azam
• A 600-page book on contemporary Persian poetry; a second volume in press
• has published numerous articles on the Baha’i Faith as well as non-Baha’i sources in defense of the Faith.

Details on these courses and more may be found at

http://www.greenacre.org/programs.aspx

Green Acre Growing

The Green Acre campus is beautiful with fall foliage and busy with construction equipment.

Click here to see more photos of the new staff housing foundation and guest housing site. We will continue to share photos as the buildings grow.

The two photos above are of the staff housing site behind Shopflocher House.

This photo is taken through the fence that is around the site of the new guest housing. Clearing has been completed, and soon construction will start on a building with 12 rooms for guests plus two dorm rooms.

Teachers Needed for Child and Youth Classes at Green Acre

Want to serve the National Spiritual Assembly by serving the children, junior youth and youth who attend Green Acre programs?  There is an urgent need for experienced children/youth class teachers and assistants to teach these young people, using our state-of-the-art Kelsey Center classroom complex.  Supplies are plentiful and the spiritual atmosphere inspiring for nurturing young souls along their spiritual pathways. Teachers and accompanying dependent children receive full room and board during their stay.  If you are willing and able to devote a weekend (or a week during winter and summer vacations) to this meritorious service, please contact Jeannine Sacco at jesacco@usbnc.org for further information on how to apply as a volunteer teacher.

Youth Service Corps (YSC)

Out in the Community

Youth Service Corps activities include attending Ruhi Book 1, 3 and soon to start Book 5.  The YSC does the practices, including direct teaching, in the Lower Maine/NH Cluster. They are also deepening on preparation for marriage every Wednesday and engaging in a number of social activities in the community. They look forward in the weeks ahead to hosting a group of 10 teens from Israel under the Friends Forever.... World Peace, Grown Locally program, and to making a visit to rural Fryeburg, Maine.

Read more about Friends Forever: www.friendsforeverusa.org

December Sessions

Details may be found here:

http://www.greenacre.org/programs.aspx

Huququ’llah - The Right of God

December 5 - 7

with

Jahangir Cyrus, member of the Board of Trustees of Huququllah for the U.S. and Alaska

Winter School 2008

December 26 - 31

(Winter School is now "wait list only" for housing, but commuters can still register. We always have housing cancellations as time goes on, so getting on the waiting list is a good idea.)

Youth Program - Releasing the Power of Junior Youth - Animator Training

with

Aniela Costello

The Spiritual Requisites of Teaching
and the Example of the Hands of the Cause

with

Jane Faily and Brett Gamboa

_____________________

A Note from Bob Salmon

Program Coordinator

Friends, I would love to hear your program requests and recommendations. Please email me at rsalmon@usbnc.org.

Thank you!