ABS Bulletin A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E A S S O C I A T I O N F O R B A H Á ’ Í S T U D I E S – N O R T H A M E R I C A Shapour Rassekh to deliver Balyuzi Lecture at ABS Montreal conference The Executive Committee is pleased International Institute for Educa tional to announce that Shapour Rassekh will Planning and International Bureau of deliver the 30th Hasan M. Balyuzi Education and has written numerous Memorial Lecture at the 36th Annual studies for these organizations. His Conference of the Association for books include The Contents of Educa - Bahá’í Studies. The conference will be tion (1987), Perspectives on Literacy held at the Fairmont The Queen (1991), Education et culture de la paix: Elizabeth in Montreal, Quebec, over Selection bibliographique mondiale the weekend of 9–12 August 2012. Dr. (1996), and Moqaddemeh bar jame‘eh Rassekh’s lecture will be on the shenasi-ye Iran (with Jamshid Behnam, topic,“‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Standard- 1970). A poet and an expert in Persian bearer of a New Civilization.” literature, he recently contributed a The conference theme is “The chapter to the volume Converging Vision of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for North Zones: Persian Literary Tradition and the America/La vision d’Abdu’l-Bahá Writing of History: Studies in Honor of pour l’Amérique du Nord.” Amin Banani (2011). For the past thir- Dr. Rassekh, who holds a PhD in ty years Dr. Rassekh has been the lead Shapour Rassekh (Photo Tobin Smith) sociology, was a professor at the editor of Payam-i-Bahá’í, the most University of Tehran and served as widely distributed Bahá’í monthly Irfan Collo quium and has articles in Iran’s Secretary of State for Economic magazine. He is the author of numer- the Encyclo paedia Iranica. He lives in and Social Planning. He has been a ous articles in that periodical, as well Geneva, Switzerland. consultant to UNESCO’s as others including papers for the Conference Information For the conference theme statement Webinars are a success and as well as the latest updates on the The Association is pleased that the webinars being held are attracting and conference program, visit the ABS engaging both ABS members and the community at large. In March 2011, a website,
NUMBER 118 / MARCH 2012 BAHÁ 169 B.E. 1 Announcements and calls for papers
ABS–Japan Annual office. The Tahirih Conference Justice The 20th Annual Conference of Center is a ABS–Japan will be held 6–8 October 501(c)(3) 2012 at the Tokyo Bahá’í Center on nonprofit the theme “Society where Public organiza- Acts as Central Player.” tion that Efforts to build new kinds of gov- serves ernments face many challenges, women including pressures exerted by and girls Montreal: Bassin Peel du canal de Lachine—Pôle des Rapides diverse ethnic, religious and political fleeing © Parcs Canada (P.-É. Cadorette) 2007 groups. The resulting confusion gender-based violence by offering could well lead to the rise of new both legal and social services to dictatorships. immigrant women in need. Members’ news Even in democracies, adherence to Bahá’í Service Fellows would ANNE GORDON PERRY and her hus- the principle of majority rule often serve in the capacity of Legal and band Tim Perry are currently work- leads to the exclusion of minorities Social Services Case Aide/ Admin - ing on a film, Luminous Journey: and the disadvantaged, widening the istrative Assistant. Basic qualifica- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America, 1912. The gap between the conditions they face tions for the Fellowship positions trailer for the film can be viewed at and those enjoyed by the majority. include undergraduate degree;
2 ABS Bulletin 118 THE VISION OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ FOR NORTH AMERICA Association for Bahá’í Studies 36th Annual Conference, 9–12 August, 2012
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Please register for EACH person attending the conference by fax: 1-613-233-3644, by phone: 1-613-233-1903, online at http://www.bahai-studies.ca or by mail: 34 Copernicus Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 7K4.
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Full Conference Fee (4 days) One-Day Fee Please circle one fee. ABS Member Non-Member ABS Member Non-Member By May 31 $80 $140* $30 $50** ALL CONFERENCE FEES Individual ARE IN CDN DOLLARS Adults By July 31 $90 $150* $30 $50** After July 31 $100 $160* $40 $60** *This fee includes a 1-year membership in the Asso- By May 31 $130 $200* n/a n/a ciation, including a year’s Couples By July 31 $140 $210* n/a n/a subscription to The Journal After July 31 $150 $220* n/a n/a of Bahá’í Studies and ABS Bulletin, and discounts on Seniors (65+)/ By May 31 $60 $90* $20 $25** ABS publications and Students/ By July 31 $70 $100* $20 $25** conferences. U.S. mem- berships are charged at the Unwaged After July 31 $80 $110* $25 $30** U.S. currency rate.
Children (ages 5–15) **This fee does not include $60 $30 membership. must be registered by July 31 ***Parents and dependent Senior couple: 10% off total registration fee children living at the same Special Discounts Family: 20% off total registration fee*** address (3 persons minimum)
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CANCELLATION POLICY: Registration Credit Card Expiration Date fees are refundable, less 10% administrative fees if the Association is notified by July 31, and less 20% administrative fees if notified after July 31. Cardholder’s Name (please print clearly) Registrants from outside Canada, please note: fees paid by credit card are processed in Canada. Some credit card companies Cardholder’s Signature apply a service charge for transactions taking place in another Country.
HHHOOOTTTEEELLL AAANNNDDD RRREEESSSEEERRRVVVAAATTTIIIOOONNNSSS The conference hotel is in downtown Montreal, and it offers two restaurants, pool, whirlpool, steam baths and exercise rooms, salon and spa, and complimentary internet access in the guest rooms. There are 14 wheelchair-accessible rooms. The hotel is also directly connected to Place Ville Marie, an underground complex with 60 stores and a large food court.
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth 900 Rene-Levesque West, Montreal, Quebec H3B 4A5
Special conference room rate:
Single/double occupancy - $139 per night (plus tax) Additional room occupants: Each extra person sharing a room will be charged and additional $20 (must be same as individual reservation charge) per night. No charge for children up to and including the age of 18 years sharing with their parents. Maximum occupancy: 4 persons per room. Toll-free reservations: 1-800-441-1414 Local reservations: 514-861-3511 Online booking: http://resweb.passkey.com/bahaistudies, code “BAHAI12” Conference attendees must make hotel reservations directly with the hotel. To receive the special rate ask for the Association for Bahá’í Studies special conference rate when making your reservation.
PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE NNNOOOTTTEEE::: these rates are guaranteed only until the room-block is filled or until July 27, 2012, whichever comes first. Reservations made after the cut-off dates will be based on availability at the Hotel’s prevailing rates. The conference rates are extended to four days before and four days after the conference dates.
TTTOOOUUURRRIIISSSMMM AAANNNDDD EEENNNTTTEEERRRTTTAAAIIINNNMMMEEENNNTTT The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is situated in Old Montreal and close to its many historical and touristic points of interest such as Notre-Dame Basilica, Saint Paul Street, Cours le Royer, and the Montreal Museum of History and Archeology, all along Montreal's cobblestone path. The large urban park of Mont-Royal, with its belvedere, ponds, walking and biking trails, is also within easy reach.
RRROOOOOOMMM SSSHHHAAARRRIIINNNGGG Reduce your conference costs (and make new friends!) by sharing a room at the hotel. To contact other attendees interested in sharing a room, please join the Yahoo! Group “ABS-NA Conference” by visiting its site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/absconference or by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]. NOTE: attendees must make their own hotel reservations and are responsible for contacting interested parties to make their own sharing arrangements. If you encounter difficulties with the Yahoo! Group system, please contact the Association for Bahá’í Studies office for assistance.
VVVIIISSSIIITTTIIINNNGGG TTTHHHEEE SSSHHHRRRIIINNNEEE Take advantage of your stay in Montreal to visit the only Bahá’í Shrine in the West:: the Maxwell home! Contact and visiting hours information can be found at www.bahaimontreal.org.