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Search for tag "Auxiliary Board Member"
date |
event |
locations |
tags |
see also |
1952 8 Oct |
Shoghi Effendi announced his decision to launch ‘the fate-laden, soul-stirring, decade-long world-embracing Spiritual Crusade’ in the coming year. [BW12:253–5; MBW40-41; StS42]
For the objectives of the Crusade see BW12:256–14.
Among the goals to be achieved was the construction of the International Bahá’í Archives building. [BBD22; DH168; MBW43]
"the first of the major edifices destined to constitute the seat of the World Bahá'í Administrative Centre to be established on Mount Carmel". [PP264]
See The Bahá’í Faith 1844-1952 Information Statistical and Comparative (PDF) compiled by Shoghi Effendi.
See map of the Ten Year Crusade. |
BWC |
Ten Year Crusade; Shoghi Effendi, Life of; International Bahai Archives; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Auxiliary Boards; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Appointed arm; Teaching Plans; Shoghi Effendi, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Shoghi Effendi, Works of |
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1954 Jan |
John and Audrey Robarts with their two younger children, Patrick and Tina, left Toronto for their pioneer post in Mafeking (later Mafikeng), Buchuanaland (later Botswana and formerly Bophuthatswana). Older children Aldham and Gerald pioneered to Nigeria and a homefront post respectively. [LOF485-6; CBN No48 January 1954 p11]
Later the same year he was appointed to the newly established Auxiliary Board by Hand of the Cause of God Músá Banání. They returned to Canada some 13 years later. [LOF486, 491] |
Canada; Botswana; Nigeria; Africa |
John Robarts; Auxiliary Board Members |
|
1954 Ridván |
In his cablegram of October 8, 1952, Shoghi Effendi called upon all 15 "continental" Hands to appoint, during Ridván, 1954, five Auxiliary Boards, one on each continent, composed of nine members each to work as their deputies along with the National Assemblies to assist in the execution of the twelve teaching plans. [BW13p335, MBW44, 63] |
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Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Appointed arm; Auxiliary Boards |
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1954. 22 Oct |
Mr and Mrs Suleimani arrived in Keelung, Taiwan by ship. They spent the rest of their lives there.
Ridvaniyyih Suleimani served on the Auxiliary Board and the National Spiritual Assembly. She passed away in Taiwan on the 18th of March 1981. [BW18p752-754]
Suleiman Suleimani served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan from its formation in 1967 until 1978. He also served as a deputy of the institution of the Huqúqu'lláh for about two decades. [BW20p889-891]
The Suleimanis, originally from Iran, had lived for about 28 years in Shanghai where Mrs Ridvaniyyih Suleimani's father, Mr Husayn Ouskouli Uskuli (or Uskui) had long resided and conducted a business. Mr and Mrs Suleimani had left Shanghai permanently in 1950 because of the difficult situations for foreigners in China but Mr Ouskouli decided to stay on and won the admiration of the Guardian. He died in Shanghai at the age of 86. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p3; PH39; Video Early history of the Bahá'í Faith in China 7 min 57 sec] |
Keelung; Taiwan; Shanghai; China |
Knights of Bahaullah; Suleimani, Mr. and Mrs.; Husayn Ouskouli Uskuli; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1956 11 - 12 Nov |
First All-Taiwan Teaching Conference was held in Tainan, Taiwan. The conference was attended by then Auxiliary Board Member Agnes Alexander from Japan. She would visit Taiwan two more times, in 1958 and 1962-as a Hand of the Cause. [The Taiwan Bahá'í Chronicle by Barbara R. Sims p17] |
Tainan; Taiwan |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Teaching; First conferences; Agnes Alexander; Auxiliary Board Members |
find reference |
1957 Oct |
Shoghi Effendi announced the appointment of a second Auxiliary Board responsible for the protection of the Faith. [MBW127–128; PP442] |
BWC |
Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Appointed arm |
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1962. 20 Jul |
The passing of Harlan Foster Ober (b. October 6, 1881 in Beverly, Massachusetts) in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
He had graduated from Harvard University in 1905 with a B.A. and later obtained a law degree from Northeastern University in Boston.
Harlan Ober became a Bahá'í at Green Acre in 1905. Another source said it was in the spring of 1906 in a room in the Commonwealth Hotel in Boston that he overcame his doubts while using a prayer and other literature given to him by Lua Getsinger. [LDNW23; 100-101; SBR120-121]
Hooper Harris and Lua Getsinger's brother, Dr. William Moore, were selected to make a teaching trip to India. When Moore died suddenly Harlan Ober was chosen to replace him. As he had no funds for the trip Lua borrowed the money from Mr Hervey Lunt, the father of Alfred Lunt. [LGHC105]
In 1906 he made a visit to 'Abdu'l-Bahá while He was still confined to prison.
On the 17th of July, 1912 he married Grace Roberts (aunt of future Hand of the Cause John Robarts) in a ceremony conducted by the Reverend Howard Colby Ives at 209 West 78th Street in New York. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited America in 1912 He had suggested that Grace Robarts and Harlan marry, and they both agreed with the match, with Harlan travelling to New York from Boston and proposing in Central Park after being informed of the suggestion by Lua Getsinger. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá performed the marriage ceremony in the room he was staying in in New York on July 17, 1912, and Howard Colby Ives later performed a legal ceremony. [SoW Vol 3 No 12 p14; Bahaipedia; The Jouney West, July 2012; Mother’s Stories: Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Early Believers told by Muriel Ives Barrow Newhall to her son, p. 20]
They adopted three children of English, German and Russian background.
It was from their home in Cambridge, MA, from the office of the National Teaching Committee, that the first Teaching Bulletin was issued on November 19, 1919. This bulletin evolved to the US Baha'i News.
He was closely involved with Race Unity work and made many teaching trips to the southern states with his friend Louis Gregory.
He served on the Bahá'í Temple Unity Executive Board as president or secretary from 1918 to 1920. The work of this board was taken over by the National Spiritual Assembly when it was elected in 1922.
In 1938 Harlan was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada and he served on it until 1941.
Grace passed away in 1938, leaving Harlan widowed.
He married his second wife, Dr Elizabeth Kidder Ober in Beverly, MA on the 21st of June, 1941. Shoghi Effendi was pleased with the way the marriage was conducted, without having any church ceremony or minister conduct the service. [BW13p869, 871]
After their pilgrimage in 1956 Harlan and Elizabeth Ober travelled to South Africa where they helped form the first all-African Local Spiritual Assembly in Pretoria as had previously been request of them by the Guardian. They returned in December as pioneers. [BW13869]
He was appointed to the Auxiliary Board for Protection in Africa in October of 1957 and served on the National Teaching Committee of South and West Africa for two years.
He was buried in the Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria. [BW13p870; Find a grave]
[Bahaipedia; BW13p869]
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Beverly MA; United States; Pretoria; South Africa |
Harlan Ober; Grace Robarts Ober; In Memoriam; US Bahai News; Race Unity; Elizabeth Kidder Ober; Elizabeth Ober; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1968. Apr |
An article honouring the Centenary of Bahá'u'lláh's Proclamation to the Kings and religious leaders of the world appeared in the April 1968 issue of Ebony Magazine. The article included a number of colour photographs taken during the recent Bahá'í Intercontinental Conference in Kampala, Uganda. Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Beth McKenty was instrumental in getting the article and has worked with Ebony on the material.
In April 1965 Ebony carried a feature story on the Faith titled: "Bahá'í: A Way of Life for Millions."
The July 1965 issue of the magazine carried a quarter-page advertisement on the Bahá'í Faith which has been one of the most successful ads in terms of response. [National Bahá'í Review No 3 March 1968 p10] |
United States |
Ebony; Proclamation; Beth McKenty; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1968 21 Jun |
The Universal House of Justice established the Continental Boards of Counsellors to continue the functions of the Hands of the Cause in the protection and propagation of the Faith. [BBD58–9, 97; BW15:611–13; BW17:319; MUHJ4–5; WG141, Mess63-86p130, 21 June, 1968, CEBF112]
For details of the eleven Boards and their membership see BW15:612 and WG140–4.
- Among the eleven people named to the Boards
in Africa were three native believers: Oloro Epyeru and Kolonario Oule in Uganda, and
Seewoosumbur-Jeehiba Appa in Mauritius.
For pictures of the Counsellors see BW15:614, 615, 618, 619, 622, 623, 625, 627.
For a history of the development of the institutions of the International Teaching Centre and the Continental boards of Counsellors see BW20p673-693.
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BWC; Haifa |
Universal House of Justice; Counsellors; Hands of the Cause; Appointed arm; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants |
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1970. 20 Feb |
The passing of Curtis Demude Kelsey (b. 6 March, 1894 in Salt Lake City, UT) in Bradenton, FL.
He became a Bahá'í in 1917 through the influence of his mother, a talented poetess and writer who learned of the Faith in 1909.
Roy Wilhelm had sent three generators to the Holy Land and had asked permission from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to have Curtis come and install them. His request was granted and Curtis spent from September, 1921 until April, 1922 in the Holy Land. The units were installed at the Shrine of the Báb, (See SETPE1p38) at Bahjí (See SETPE1p55) and at the home of 'Abdu'l-Bahá at #7 Haparsin Street and the work was completed at all three locations on the last day of Ridván, 1922.
On the 6th of August, 1928 he married Harriet Morgan Kelsey (d. 18 March, 1971), a gifted musician and a teacher. They raised four children.
In 1953 while on pilgrimage Shoghi Effendi asked him to extend his stay to install a pump and watering system for the grounds at Bahjí.
He served on the Spiritual Assembly of West Englewood (now Teaneck) for some 30 years.
Curtis spent some time serving as an Auxiliary Board Member and gave talks at summer schools.
He passed away while serving at his place of retirement in Bradenton Florida.
[BW15p468-473]
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Bradenton; FL; United States |
Curtis Kelsey; Harriet Kelsey; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1970 Ridván |
In its Ridván Message the Universal House of Justice announced the appointment of three additional Councillors, Iraj Ayman in Western Asia, Anneliese Bopp and Betty Reed in Europe and some 45 additional Auxiliary Board Members, 9 in Africa, 16 in Asia, 2 in Australasia and 18 in the Western Hemisphere. [Ridván 1970] |
BWC |
Counsellors; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants |
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1973 8 Jun |
The Universal House of Justice permitted the Continental Boards of Counsellors to authorize individual Auxiliary Board members to appoint assistants. [BW17:322]
Mrs. Zena Sorabjee was appointed Trustee of the new Continental Fund of South Central Asia, while Mr. Hushang Ahdieh and Mr. Mas‘úd Khamsí were appointed the new Trustees of the Continental Funds of Central and East Africa and South America respectively. 8 June, 1973 |
BWC |
Counsellors; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Appointed arm; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Funds, Continental; Funds |
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1973 7 Oct |
The Universal House of Justice announced that the number of Auxiliary Board members throughout the world was to be raised to 270, of whom 81 will serve on the Auxiliary Boards for the Protection of the Faith and 189 will serve on the Auxiliary Boards for the Propagation of the Faith. In all there will be 54 Auxiliary Board members in Africa, 81 in the Western Hemisphere, 81 in Asia, 18 in Australasia and 36 in Europe.
Each Continental Board of Counsellors was given the discretion to authorize individual Auxiliary Board members to appoint assistants and given broad latitude in this matter.
[Message from the Universal House of Justice 7 October, 1973] |
BWC |
Counsellors; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Appointed arm; Universal House of Justice, Basic timeline; - Basic timeline, Expanded |
|
1974 1 Feb |
The passing of Daoud Toeg (b. Baghdad, Iraq in 1897) in Hull, Quebec (now Gatineau).
After he had learned of the Faith he enrolled eight other persons before writing the Guardian with his own declaration.
He pioneered to Italy in the 1930s for about a year and a half.
In 1954 he was appointed Auxiliary Board Member for Iraq, on the first Auxiliary Board for Asia. He served for sixteen years.
He supervised the construction of the Hazíratu'l-Quds in Baghdad and was helpful in securing a Temple site.
Mr. Toeg served the Guardian by conveying artifacts and Huqúqu'lláh payments from Persia to the Holy Land at a time when there was no direct communications.
He served as a representative of the Huqúqu'lláh for the believers in Iraq.
He was instrumental in locating and photographing the caves of Sar-Galú in Sulaymáníyyih, Kurdistán where Bahá'u'lláh lived for two years while in retreat.
He, his wife Latifa, and their sons pioneered to Kirkuk during the Ten Year Crusade but after seven years were asked to return to Baghdad to assist with the work there.
The family left Iraq in 1970 and settled in Hull where they helped to establish the first Local Spiritual Assembly. [BW16p527-528, Bahá'í World 16, Grave] |
Hull; Quebec; Baghdad; Sulaymaniyyih; Kurdistan |
Daoud Toeg; In Memoriam; Auxiliary Board Members |
|
1978 Ridván |
The National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland was formed. [BN No 598 January 1981 p14; BN no 608 November 1981 p10]
A member of that Assembly was John W Allen, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Swaziland. Mr Allen had served on National Assemblies since 1956 (Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa, then in 1967 the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique which, in 1978, became the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland. Mr Allen passed away on the 31st of August, 1981 while visiting the US. Mr Allen also served as an Auxiliary Board Member for Protection. He was among the first group appointed by the Guardian.
Note: In 1977 Angola and Mozambique were placed under the direct guidance of the Universal House of Justice. [BN no608 November 1981 p11]
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Swaziland |
National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1983 17 Jul |
The passing of Counsellor William Mmutle Masetlha (b.February 21, 1921 in Sophiatown, a township of Johannesburg) in Dube (Soweto), South Africa. [BW19p607-608]
He became a Bahá'í in 1954 and served on local assemblies, the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa, on the Auxiliary Board and in 1976 was appointed as a Counsellor. [Bahá'í Chronicles]
Founded in 1995, the William Mmutle Masetlha Foundation (WMMF) is a Bahá'í organization that supports education and vocational training initiatives in Zambia. Its parent organization, the Masetlha Institute, was founded in 1983 and offers community-based education in areas including literacy and health, as well as spirituality. One of the WMMF’s initiatives, the Banani International Secondary School, is a residential girls’ school specializing in science and agriculture; in 2003, the Banani School was ranked among the top 100 African secondary schools. WMMF is also partnering with FUNDAEC (Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences) to develop a secondary education/vocational training preparation program for rural youth.
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Sophiatown; Johannesburg; Dube; Soweto; South Africa |
In Memoriam; Mmutle Masetlha; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1987 26 Jan |
Charles Wolcott (b. September 29, 1906 in Flint, MI) member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away in Haifa. [BINS162:1; VV97]
Mr Wolcott passed away on the day he dictated the essay in the Forward of the book The Creative Circle: Art, Literature, and Music in Bahá'í Perspective edited by Michael Fitzgerald and published by Kalimat Press in 1989. [The Creative Circle pgx-xx]
See a video tribute entitled In Memory of Charles Wolcott, 1906-1987.
Wikipedia.
Elected in his stead was Dr. Peter Khan. He was born in Australia, held professorial posts in electrical engineering at universities in the United States and Australia. He served as an Auxiliary Board member, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia, and a Continental Counsellor before being appointed to the International Teaching Centre.
[BWNS208] |
BWC |
Charles Wolcott; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Peter Khan; Universal House of Justice, Members of; BWNS; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1987. 20 Mar |
Dr Peter Khan was elected to the Universal House of Justice. [Mess86-01p18]
Dr. Peter Khan, born in Australia, held professorial posts in electrical engineering at universities in the United States and Australia. He served as an Auxiliary Board member, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia, and a Continental Counsellor before being appointed to the International Teaching Centre. |
BWC |
Universal House of Justice, election; Peter Khan; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1990 26 Nov |
The number of the Auxiliary Board members was increased from 756 to 846. [AWH89] |
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Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Statistics; Appointed arm |
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1998. 8 Apr |
The passing of Florence Virginia Wilson Mayberry (b. 18 September 1906 in Sleeper, Missouri) in Marshfield, Missouri. She became a Bahá'í in 1941 in Reno, Nevada. From 1954 to 1959 she served on the first Auxiliary Board for North America covering the Western States and Canada. While serving as an Auxiliary Board member, Florence was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1959. Shortly after the Mayberry family pioneered to Mexico in 1961 where Mrs. Mayberry was elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly of that country and participated in the first International Bahá’í Convention in 1963. In 1968 she was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, then in 1973 she was appointed as one of three Counselors of the newly established International Teaching Center where she served for 10 years.
[BW26p275]
Her autobiography, The Great Adventure was published by Nine Pines Publishing in 1994.
She was a mystery writer. She had a number of stories published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine.
Find a grave. |
Sleeper, Missouri; Marshfield, Missouri |
In Memoriam; Florence Mayberry; Auxiliary Board Members; Counsellors; International Teaching Centre |
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2000 23 Mar |
The election of Kiser Barnes to the Universal House of Justice to replace Mr Adib Taherzadeh. [BWNS948]
Mr. Kiser Barnes was born in the United States, and held degrees in political science and law. He practiced law and held senior positions in human rights organizations and in labour relations in the United States, before moving to Africa where he held senior academic posts at universities in Benin, Togo and Nigeria. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Benin, an Auxiliary Board member and a Continental Counsellor until appointed to the International Teaching Centre in 1993. [BWNS208] |
BWC |
Kiser Barnes; Adib Taherzadeh; Universal House of Justice, Members of; BWNS; Auxiliary Board Members; Continental Board of Counsellors |
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2001 9 - 13 Jan |
The Counsellors in all continents met at the World Centre to take part in deliberations on the general features of the Five Year Plan. They were joined by the Auxiliary Board members (849 from 172 countries) who gathered from throughout the world to participate in events marking the occupation by the International Teaching Centre of its permanent seat on Mount Carmel. [From the messages from the Universal House of Justice dated the 29th of October, 2000 and the16th of January, 2001] |
BWC; Haifa |
Counsellors; Counsellors conferences; Five Year Plan (2001-2006); Teaching Plans; Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; International Teaching Centre, Seat |
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2004 2 Apr |
The passing of Ola Pawlowska (b. Ola Clemens 14 February, 1910 in Lakta, outside Cacow, Poland) in Newfoundland, Canada. Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for St. Pierre and Miquelon, translator of the Writings (into Polish), pioneer to Poland, Luxembourg and Congo (30 years), Auxiliary Board Member. [BW'03-‘04pg236, BWNS248]
For her biography see Legacy of Courage: The Life of Ola Pawlowska, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh" by Suzanne Schuurman, published by George Ronald in 2008. |
Lakta; Cacow; Newfoundland; Canada; St Pierre and Miquelon; Poland; Luxembourg; Congo |
Knights of Bahaullah; Ola Pawlowska; Births and deaths; BWNS; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2005 21 Mar |
The announcement of the retirement of Mr. Ian Semple and Mr. Douglas Martin from the Universal House of Justice. Mr. Semple served since 1963 and Mr. Martin was elected in 1993. [BWNS359]
Mr. Ian Semple, born in England, held a Master of Arts degree in the German and French languages and literature from Oxford University. A chartered accountant, he served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles. He was an Auxiliary Board member in Europe and was elected to the International Bahá'í Council in 1961. He was first elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1963.
Mr. Douglas Martin, born in Canada, held degrees in business administration and in history, and was an author and editor. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada, serving as its chief executive officer from 1965 to 1985 when he was appointed Director-General of the Office of Public Information at the Bahá'í World Centre. He was elected to the Universal House of Justice in 1993. [BWNS208] |
BWC |
Ian Semple; Douglas Martin; Retirements; Universal House of Justice, Members of; BWNS; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2007 24 May |
The passing of Hadi Rahmani-Shirazi (b. 1914) in the United Kingdom. He was buried in New Southgate Cemetery.
pioneered to Afghanistan at the Guardian's behest,
served on the National Spiritual Assembly and the Auxiliary Board in the Cradle of the Faith,
served as the executive director of the Nonahalan Company, (A Bahá’í investment company in Iran)
among first appointed to institution of the Counsellors created by the Universal House of Justice in June 1968,
relocated to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s,
contributed greatly to the development of the Institution of Huququ'llah through his services as a Deputy. [UK BAHA'I NEWS EMAIL SERVICE message from the National Spiritual Assembly nsa@bahai.org.uk 24 May 2007]
Find a grave
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United Kingdom; Afghanistan; Iran |
Hadi Rahmani-Shirazi; Nawnahalan Company; Counsellors; Huququllah; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2016 25 Apr |
The passing of former member of the International Teaching Centre, Joy Stevenson (b. 1919) in Queanbeyan, Australia. She made a distinctive contribution to the advancement of Bahá'í communities in Australasia as a Counsellor and an Auxiliary Board member and as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia. [BWNS1103]
Bahaipedia.
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Queanbeyan; Australia |
In Memoriam; Joy Stevenson; International Teaching Centre, Members of; BWNS; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2016 25 Nov |
In a message addressed to the Bahá'ís of the World on of the Day of the Covenant, the Universal House of Justice marked the beginning of a new five-year term of service for the Auxiliary Board Members and announced an augmentation in the number of members by 144 bringing the total to 1,134 members distributed evenly between the Propagation and the Protection Boards.
In the same message it announced plans for a series of conferences called by the International Teaching Centre where the Auxiliary Board Members would be assisted in the deepening of their understanding of the spiritual nature of their work and the wide-ranging responsibilities they will shoulder.
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BWC |
Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants; Statistics |
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2019 28 Apr |
The passing of Don Otto Rogers (b. 1935 in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan) a former member of the International Teaching Centre, in Picton, Ontario. He was buried in the Rose Cemetery in Waupoos, Ontario.
He enrolled in the Faith in 1960 while a resident of Saskatoon. [CBN No 124 May 1960 p6]
He served as an Auxiliary Board member and then as a Continental Counsellor followed by a decade as a member of the International Teaching Centre and upon returning to Canada, served on the National Spiritual Assembly.
[BWNS1323; Wikipedia.]
As an accomplished artist, he was known as "Otto Rogers". He taught at the University of Saskatchewan (1959-1988) after receiving his MA in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin. Mr Rogers helped sustain the Emma Lake Workshops, a meeting place for some of North America’s leading artists including Barnett Newman, Jules Olitski and Mr Rogers himself. His work was held in more than 30 public collections including: the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
His website.
His works at the Oeno Gallery in Prince Edward County.
Canadian Art.
Video The Artist In Us Interview—Painter Otto Rogers.
A talk by Otto Rogers entitled Artist’s Studio.
The Canadian Encylopedia.
The National Gallery of Canada.
His publications:
A publications about his work.
|
Kerrobert Saskatchewan; Milford; Ontario; Waupoos, Ontario |
Don Rogers; Otto Rogers; Counsellors; In Memoriam; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2019. 11 Oct |
‘Ali Nakhjavani, (b. 19 September, 1919 in Baku, Azerbaijan) former member of the Universal House of Justice (1963-2003), passed away in Molsheim, Alsace, France. He was 100 years old. The Universal House of Justice requested all National Assemblies that memorial services be held for him. [BWNS1361]
After his father's death when he was two years old, his family was advised by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to move to Haifa where he grew up. In 1939 he received the Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from the American University of Beirut, and then in the early 1940s he relocated to Iran, residing first in Tehran, then Tabriz and finally in Shiraz. In 1950 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís Iran where he served until the following year.
In 1951 he and his family moved to Uganda to assist with the development of the Bahá'í community in that country. He made his living as a teacher and lecturer. During his early years there, Enoch Olinga became a Bahá'í, and in 1953 Mr Nakhjavání and his wife Violette, along with Mr Olinga and two other Bahá'ís, travelled from Uganda to Cameroon to help spread the Bahá'í Faith in that country.
From 1954-61 he was a member of the Auxiliary Board in Africa, and later from 1956 to 1961 he was served on the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa.
In 1961 he was elected to the International Bahá'í Council and so moved to Haifa. In 1963 he was elected to the Universal House of Justice during its inaugural convention, and served as a member of that body until 2003.
[Find a grave]
For a video tribute to Mr Nakhjavani see YouTube.
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Baku; Azerbaijan; Beirut; Lebanon; Molsheim; France |
Ali Nakhjavani; In Memoriam; American University of Beirut; Enoch Olinga; Violette Nakhjavani; International Bahai Council; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2020. 24 Sep |
The passing of former member of the International Teaching Centre Violette Haake (b.1928 in Iran) in Melbourne, Australia. She served in the United States and in Australia in the role of Auxiliary Board Member, as a Continental Counsellor in Australasia and ten years as a member of the International Teaching Centre.
[BWNS1452]
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Melbourne; Australia |
Violette Haake; In Memoriam; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2021. 13 Jan |
The Continental Board of Counsellors has informed all National Spiritual Assemblies in Europe that the Universal House of Justice has determined that, exceptionally, the new five-year term for Auxiliary Board members will this year begin on 1 July 2021 rather than on the Day of the Covenant. This is to provide the Auxiliary Board members with sufficient time to make preparatory arrangements for the conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members called for in January 2022. [UK Bahá'í News 13 January 2021] |
BWC |
Auxiliary Board Members; Assistants |
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2022. 7 Jan |
The conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members will coincide with the lapse of one hundred years since the first public reading of the Will and Testament of the Master. [25 November 2020]
The Counsellors in all continents will be called to the Bahá’í World Centre in December 2021 to take part in deliberations on the general features of the Plan to be launched the following Riḍván. At the conclusion of that gathering, they are to be joined by members of the Auxiliary Boards for Protection and Propagation to consult on the
challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and on the decisive role that the Counsellors and their auxiliaries are to play in meeting them. [From a message from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the World dated 29 October 2020] |
BWC |
Abdul-Baha, Will and Testament of; Conferences, Counsellors; Centenaries; Auxiliary Board Members; Teaching Plans; Nine Year Plan (2022-2031) |
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date |
event |
locations |
tags |
see also |
1954 Jan |
John and Audrey Robarts with their two younger children, Patrick and Tina, left Toronto for their pioneer post in Mafeking (later Mafikeng), Bechuanaland (later Botswana and formerly Bophuthatswana). Older children Aldham and Gerald pioneered to Nigeria and a homefront post respectively. [LOF485-6]
Upon departure, as they passed through Montreal, Rosemary Sala presented 13-year-old Tina with a large box containing 21 individually wrapped presents to be opened, one per day, on their 21-day sea voyage. [TG121]
Later the same year he was appointed to the newly established Auxiliary Board by Hand of the Cause of God Músá Banání. They returned to Canada some 13 years later. [LOF486, 491] |
Canada; Botswana; Nigeria; Africa |
Hand of the Cause; John Robarts, Audrey Robarts; Patrick Robarts; Tina Robarts; Gerald Robarts; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1954 Jun |
In June of 1954 it was announced in the American Bahá'í News that the following had been appointed to the Auxiliary Board in North America: Gayle Woolson, Margery McCormick, Katherine McLaughlin, Florence Mayberry, Sarah Pereira, and Rowland Estall by the three Hands of the Cause in North America, Corrine True, Horace Holley and Paul Haney.
To make it possible for the Auxiliary Boards to fulfill their mission, the Guardian transmitted an initial contribution of five thousand pounds to be equally divided among the five continents, and appealed to both individuals and National Assemblies to augment these funds. [BN No 28 June 1954 p6]
In Africa there were eight new Auxiliary Board Members and among them were Elsie Austin, 'Alí Nakhjavání, John Robarts, William Sears, and 'Azíz Yazdi. [UC49]
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Auxiliary Board Members; Gayle Woolson; Margery McCormick; Katherine McLaughlin; Florence Mayberry; Sarah Pereira; Rowland Estall; Elsie Austin; Ali Nakhjavani; John Robarts; William Sears; Aziz Yazdi |
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1954. 1 Oct |
Auxiliary Board Member Florence Mayberry launched the first weekly fireside effort and the first public meeting when she returned in October, 1956. [CBN No 117 October 1957 p1] |
Yukon |
Florence Mayberry; Auxiliary Board Member |
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1957. 6 Dec |
In a letter to the National Spiritual Assemblies the Hands of the Cause in America announced the appointment of Peggy Ross as the Auxiliary Board Member for Propagation (Teaching). Rowland Estall, who had served as the ABM in the Eastern part of Canada for several years was reassigned as the Auxiliary Board Member for Protection. [CBN No 97 February, 1958 p4] |
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Auxiliary Board Members; Peggy Ross; Rowland Estall |
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1960 Sep |
Peggy Ross, who had been serving as both an Auxiliary Board Member and secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, had to resign her position as secretary to devote more time to her work as an Auxiliary Board Member. Audrey Westheuser took over the secretarial duties. At this point both she and Rowland Estall were serving on the National Assembly and as Auxiliary Board Members. iiiii
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Auxiliary Board; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1968. Apr |
An article honouring the Centenary of Bahá'u'lláh's Proclamation to the Kings and religious leaders of the world appeared in the April 1968 issue of Ebony Magazine. The article included a number of colour photographs taken during the recent Bahá'í Intercontinental Conference in Kampala, Uganda. Auxiliary Board Member Mrs. Beth McKenty was instrumental in getting the article and has worked with Ebony on the material.
In April 1965 Ebony carried a feature story on the Faith titled: "Bahá'í: A Way of Life for Millions."
The July 1965 issue of the magazine carried a quarter-page advertisement on the Bahá'í Faith which has been one of the most successful ads in terms of response. [National Bahá'í Review No 3 March 1968 p10] |
United States |
Ebony; Proclamation; Beth McKenty; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1969. Mar |
As of this date, the Auxiliary Board Members in Canada served in the following areas:
Mr. R. Ted Anderson; Yukon and McKenzie Territories, Alberta, British Columbia, and
shared Franklin District with Peggy Ross.
Mr. Fred Graham; Ontario, Quebec, The Maritimes
Mrs. Peggy Ross; Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Keewatin
District, and shared Franklin District with Ted Anderson. [Bahá'í National Review Issue 15 March 1969 p3]
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Canada |
Auxiliary Board Members; Ted Anderson; Fred Graham; Peggy Ross |
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1974 1 Feb |
The passing of Daoud Toeg (b. Baghdad, Iraq in 1897) in Hull, Quebec (now Gatineau).
After he had learned of the Faith he enrolled eight other persons before writing the Guardian with his own declaration.
He pioneered to Italy in the 1930s for about a year and a half.
In 1954 he was appointed Auxiliary Board Member for Iraq, on the first Auxiliary Board for Asia. He served for sixteen years.
He supervised the construction of the Hazíratu'l-Quds in Baghdad and was helpful in securing a Temple site.
Mr. Toeg served the Guardian by conveying artifacts and Huqúqu'lláh payments from Persia to the Holy Land at a time when there was no direct communications.
He served as a representative of the Huqúqu'lláh for the believers in Iraq.
He was instrumental in locating and photographing the caves of Sar-Galú in Sulaymáníyyih, Kurdistán where Bahá'u'lláh lived for two years while in retreat.
He, his wife Latifa, and their sons pioneered to Kirkuk during the Ten Year Crusade but after seven years were asked to return to Baghdad to assist with the work there.
The family left Iraq in 1970 and settled in Hull where they helped to establish the first Local Spiritual Assembly. [BW16p527-528, Bahá'í World 16, Grave; CBN No 277 March 1974 p11] |
Hull, QC; Baghdad; Sulaymaniyyih; Kurdistan |
Daoud Toeg; In Memoriam; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1975 4 - 8 Jul |
The Ridván Message contained the phrase, "EVIDENCES GATHERING CLOUDS WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION" and the Universal House of Justice called together all the 'high ranking officers' and 'senior administrative bodies' of the Faith in North America for special consultation on the future protection of the Cause" to be held in Wilmette. It was attended by the three Hands of the Cause for North America, Mr Sears, Mr Robarts and Mr Zikrullah Khadem; the four members of the Board of Counsellors, Velma Sherrill, Lloyd Gardner, Sarah Periera, and Edna True; all the members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada and the United States as well as representative of the National Assembly of Hawaii; all of the Auxiliary Board Members in North America and special guest, Counsellor 'Azíz Yazdí of the International Teaching Centre.
Although the primary reason for gathering was to discuss the issue of the protection of the Faith there were opportunities for members of the three National Spiritual Assemblies and the Auxiliary Boards to share teaching ideas and to hear of the goals achieved in other areas. [BN Vol 52 No 8 August, 1975 p13-14, CBN Issue 287 Aug/Sept 1975 p1-4] |
Wilmette, IL |
Conferences; Hands of the Cause; Protection; Continental Board of Counsellors; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1975 c. Aug |
Auxiliary Board Member Angus Cowan announced the appointment Mrs Stuart Hanks as Assistant for the province of Manitoba, Mr Don Rogers as Assistant for the province of Saskatchewan and Mrs Joyce McGuffie as Assistant for the First Nations communities.
Auxiliary Board Member David Smith announced the appointment of Mr Douglas Wilson as Assistant for the territory of Central and Eastern Ontario. [CBN No 287 Aug/Sep 1975] |
Canada |
Auxiliary Board Members; Assistant, Angus Cowan; David Smith; Stuart Hanks; Don Rogers; Joyce McGuffie; Douglas Wilson |
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1996 10 Jan |
The passing of Ruth Eyford in St. Albert, AB. (b. Ruth Monk 12 June, 1930, NS). [Find a grave]
She became a Bahá'í in Montreal in 1956 and married Glen Eyford in 1957. She and Glen served in Iceland and in India. Returning to Canada she served as an Auxiliary Board Member and as chair of the National Spiritual Assembly as well as a number of local and national committees. [BW1995-1996p313] |
St. Albert, AB; Montreal, QC; Canada; India; Iceland |
Ruth Eyford; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Pioneering; Auxiliary Board Members |
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1998. 8 Apr |
The passing of Florence Virginia Wilson Mayberry (b. 18 September 1906 in Sleeper, Missouri) in Marshfield, Missouri. She became a Bahá'í in 1941 in Reno, Nevada. From 1954 to 1959 she served on the first Auxiliary Board for North America covering the Western States and Canada. While serving as an Auxiliary Board member, Florence was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1959. Shortly after the Mayberry family pioneered to Mexico in 1961 where Mrs. Mayberry was elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly of that country and participated in the first International Bahá’í Convention in 1963. In 1968 she was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, then in 1973 she was appointed as one of three Counselors of the newly established International Teaching Center where she served for 10 years.
[BW26p275]
Her autobiography, The Great Adventure was published by Nine Pines Publishing in 1994.
She was a mystery writer. She had a number of stories published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine.
Find a grave. |
Sleeper, Missouri; Marshfield, Missouri |
In Memoriam; Florence Mayberry; Auxiliary Board Members, Continental Board of Counsellors; International Teaching Centre; National Spiritual Assembly |
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2000. 24 Jan |
The passing of Margaret (Peggy) MacGregor Ross (b. 9 January 1909 in Dundee, Scotland). She served on several spiritual assemblies and was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly in 1953 and was a member for fourteen years. She was appointed an Auxiliary Board member in 1957 and served in that capacity until 1986. For several years in the 1970s she and John (Pops) served as custodians for the Fort Qu'Appelle Bahá'í Institute. She was widowed in 1973. They had three children.
Her greatest love was teaching the Native people of Canada and Greenland. She travelled to Australia, Europe, Southeast Asia and attended the dedication of the Houses of Worship in the the United States, Samoa and in India. [BW28p309] |
Toronto, ON |
In Memoriam; Peggy Ross; Auxiliary Board Members; National Spiritual Assembly |
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2004 2 Apr |
The passing of Ola Pawlowska (b. Ola Clemens 14 February, 1910 in Lakta, outside Cacow, Poland) in Newfoundland, Canada. Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for St. Pierre and Miquelon, translator of the Writings (into Polish), pioneer to Poland, Luxembourg and Congo (30 years), Auxiliary Board Member. She had fled her native Poland iduring World War II and settled in Canada where she became a Bahá'í. [BW'03-‘04pg236, BWNS248]
For her biography see Legacy of Courage: The Life of Ola Pawlowska, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh" by by Suzanne Schuurman, published by George Ronald in 2008. |
Lakta; Cacow; NL; St Pierre and Miquelon; Poland; Luxembourg; Congo |
Knights of Bahaullah; Ola Pawlowska; Births and deaths; Suzanne Schuurman; Auxiliary Board Members
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2013. (In the year) |
The publication of An Uncommon Canadian: The Story of Fred Graham by Dale Sims The book can be ordered directly from the publisher's website.
Fred Graham was a man of humble beginnings who met trials and tests with an indomitable spirit and emerged as one of the foremost Canadian Baha’i servants in the time following the turmoil of the Great Depression and the Second World War. In the words of the Universal House of Justice, Fred Graham became a “devoted servant,” an “inspiring teacher” and an “exemplary believer”. |
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Fred Graham; Dale Sims; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2017. 21 Sep |
The passing of Raymond Theodore (Ted) Anderson (b. 5 August 1924 Mount Horb, WN) in Innisfail, AB. [Find a grave]
He earned his BA and two master's degrees in Oregon and Chicago where he became a Bahá’í. Ted met his wife Joan Storie at the Bahá'í House of Worship in Chicago. They married in 1951 and pioneered to Whitehorse in 1953 where they earned the title, Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. During their time in the Yukon they were adopted by the Tlingit First Nations of Carcross-Tagish. In 1965 Ted was appointed as an Auxiliary Board Member for Alaska by Zikrullah Khadem and served in that capacity along with Howard Brown.
Ted and Joanie relocated to Red Deer, Alberta in 1972 and Joanie passed away in 2000.
[Bahaipedia; CBN 410 p5; Find a grave]
See mention of the Andersons in A New Skin for an Old Drum: Changing Contexts of Yukon Aboriginal Bahá’í Storytelling by Lynn Echevarria.
See as well The Yukon Bahá’is: Establishing an Archive of Historical Materials and First Nations Life Histories by Lynn Echevarria.
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Mount Horb, WN, USA; Whitehorse, YT; Innisfail, AB |
Ted Anderson; Joan Anderson; Joanie Anderson; In Memoriam; Knight of Bahaullah; Auxiliary Board Members; Howard Brown; Tlingit; Lynn Echevarria |
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2019 28 Apr |
The passing of Don Otto Rogers (b. 1935 in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan) a former member of the International Teaching Centre, in Picton, Ontario. He was buried in the Rose Cemetery in Waupoos, ON.
He enrolled as a believer in 1960 while resident in Saskatoon. [CBN No 124 May 1960 p6; Bahá'í Canada 30 April 2019]
He served as an Auxiliary Board Member and then as a Continental Counsellor followed by a decade as a member of the International Teaching Centre and upon returning to Canada, served on the National Spiritual Assembly.
[BWNS1323; Wikipedia.]
As an accomplished artist, he was known as "Otto Rogers". He taught at the University of Saskatchewan (1959-1988) after receiving his MA in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin. Mr Rogers helped sustain the Emma Lake Workshops, a meeting place for some of North America’s leading artists including Barnett Newman, Jules Olitski and Mr Rogers himself. His work was held in more than 30 public collections including: the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
His website.
His works at the Oeno Gallery in Prince Edward County.
Canadian Art.
Video The Artist In Us Interview—Painter Otto Rogers.
A talk by Otto Rogers entitled Artist’s Studio.
The Canadian Encylopedia.
The National Gallery of Canada.
His publications:
A publications about his work:
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Kerrobert, SK; Milford, ON; Waupoos, ON |
Don Rogers; Otto Rogers; Continental Board of Counsellors; In Memoriam; Auxiliary Board Members |
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2021. 15 Jun |
The Universal House of Justice determined that, exceptionally, the new term for Auxiliary Board Members would begin on 1 July 2021 rather than on the Day of the Covenant this year, to provide the Board members with sufficient time to make preparatory arrangements for the conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members called for January 2022.
The Continental Board of Counsellors appointed the following 26 Auxiliary Board members to serve in Canada.
Those serving on the Propagation Board:
Mert Ozyonum, Atlantic Provinces
Betty Dai, Anthony Jjumba, Shawyun Refahi and Anisa Skuce-Newell in British Columbia
Lita Cameron, Elisa Cooper, Neda Farahmandpour, Caitlin Moore in Ontario
Maëlle Turbide in Québec
Dagmawit E. Habtemariam in Saskatchewan-Manitoba
Drew Erickson in Alberta
Those serving on the Protection Board:
Alanna Robertson Vreeland in the Atlantic Provinces
Agazzi Abay Tsehaye, Nabih Ardekany, Navid Jaberi, Lori Mason in British Columbia
Ravin Appadoo, Rebecca Hamilton-Bachiu, Justin Kianfar, Bronwyn Naylor and Golbon Singh in Ontario
Mona Pirmoradi in Québec
Anis Sabet in Saskatchewan-Manitoba
Karolina Drabik and Shabnam Shakibaei in Alberta
The Counsellors expressed their love and gratitude to these distinguished friends who have served so faithfully and sacrificially and who will be relieved of this service as of 1 July 2021. They were: Sara Chesley, Sohayl Ghadirian, Alaleh Rohani, Robert M. Ngunjiri, Rhona Scoffield, Sophie Turbide, Stacey-Michelle Tekye, and Tahirih North.
[Letter from the National Assembly to the Canadian community dated 16 June 2021 S113255] |
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Auxiliary Board Members, appointment of; Auxiliary Board Members |
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