From the Council table

The Council for Scotland had its most recent meeting in November at a Bahá’í home in the beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside. The meeting began with a review of activities across Scotland and the Council was delighted to hear of many exciting developments – a new enrolment in Shetland; plans for a junior youth group in a very deprived area of Glasgow; an outstanding Holy Day celebration in Inverness; a dramatic rise in local activities in Fyvie – these were just a few of the items mentioned showing that the friends across Scotland are striving to share the message of Bahá’u’lláh in many different ways. The Council is very aware of these efforts and initiatives, and of the challenging circumstances that many of you face. The Council Members were moved during the meeting to recite the Tablet of Ahmad, imploring Bahá’u’lláh’s aid in helping all of the friends in Scotland in their lives and their service.

On the first day, the Council met with the Training Institute Board to look in detail at the progress that had been made in the priority Forth-Clyde cluster. Much has changed in this cluster in the last year and the learning from this experience will be invaluable for application in all parts of Scotland. At the heart of this learning has been the Area Teaching Committee who have been working tirelessly to encourage and sustain teaching activities across the cluster. While not dramatic, progress has been encouragingly steady and the Council is confident that the lessons learned in the past year will enable the friends in the cluster to make teaching ever more the ‘dominant passion of their lives’.

Early plans were outlined at the meeting for a one-day Scottish Arts event to be held in late Spring/ early Summer 2007. More detail about this event will be available soon. It promises to be both a joyous and imaginative celebration for all of the community and for our friends.

The Council discussed the organising of a Scottish Winter School in 2007, knowing that many of the friends value the opportunity to attend a residential Bahá’í event at that time of year. However, the Council also knows that the organisation of such events can be a challenge to those asked to undertake it, and that much needs to be done differently to make such events truly ‘open to all’. For these reasons, the Council would like to ask everyone to share their views and would appreciate it if you could please take a couple of minutes to answer the questions below and return them to the Council, using one of the following options.

• Complete our on-line form
• Download a DOC file and email the completed form to bcs@bahai.org.uk
• Download a PDF document and send the completed form to Bahá’í Council for Scotland, 2 Burgess Hill, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 6BX
• Print an HTM document and send the completed page to Bahá’í Council for Scotland, 2 Burgess Hill, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 6BX

May Bahá’u’lláh bless you all with abundant bounties.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Council is aware that many friends are disappointed that there will not be a summer school in Scotland next year and, as we know the value of these events to Bahá’ís of all ages, the Council would like to let you know that subsidies and financial help are still available if you are thinking of attending schools further afield, such as in England, Wales or Ireland.

Please contact the Council Treasurer as soon as you have decided which school you want to attend to discuss the details. The Council is keen for the friends to make use of this offer, especially the youth, and friends from islands and isolated communities.

Warmest Bahá'í Greetings