Dear friends: How amazing to see the new welcoming wall at the House of Worship! What a new and different look for the House of Worship. And such big news that Dorothy Nelson has retired and Valerie Dana has replaced her. Thanks for sharing all of this.

We are full of joy and thankfulness to learn of our newly elected National Spiritual Assembly. My heart is full to think of our dear Dorothy Nelson and her 40 years serving this divine institution through all of the ups and downs, anxieties and celebrations, and growing strength of the American Baha'i community. She is indeed part of the fabric of our US Baha'i Community and has "given [her] all in the hope of obtaining that which is with Thee." Each and every member of our beloved National Spiritual Assembly has a place in my heart and in my daily prayers. We rely upon your examples and your strengths and celebrate your spiritual leadership as we continue to work together toward the implementation of the Divine Plan and the long awaited entry into the Faith by troops.

We would like to know and meet or chat/email to whose are Deaf Baha'i Faith so we are very interesting to have gather Deaf Baha'i Faith groups. Please let us know asap! Thanks, Glory Ray

I would be very interested in knowing more. thank you.

That is an amazing event. Besides, big changes occurred. Dorothy Nelson has retired. I hope they Valerie Dana is as good as she. You know such convention reminded me of a book by Hermann Hesse The Glas Bead Game (if you don't know what I'm talking about you can find this book at the book search engine http://ebook-search-queen.com ). The activity of the heroes reminds me yours. Besides, you are as intelligent as they.

We will be offering ASL interpreting for anyone interested in Nebraska (Omaha Metropolitan area, Lincoln or Aurora...or anywhere else in Nebraska) We are just now posting the information to the Nebraska Deaf Community so don't know if there is interest yet, but an interpreter is Bahai and happy to interpret. Contact information: lunitatucumana373@msn.com

I wonder if i'll ever be able to attend to one of the conventions! I'm still making money to buy me a ticket to a very special trip soon ;) Probably 2010?? Cheers.

Dear Friends, My name is Katrina Evans. I am a Baha'i youth in Southern, CA. I am currently in my first year in college. The major I am working towards is Deaf Studies and a DHH Credential, along with ASL. Eventually I will become an elementary/middle school teacher at a school for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. I am interested in contacting Baha'is involved in the Deaf community. I believe there is a great need in this area. I am working to establish centralized communication for Baha'is involved or interested in the Deaf Community. This would include a dialog with friends across the U.S. to discuss the needs and paths of service for the American Baha'i Community. This might include a website, or blog, or more. It might include the translation of prayers and core activities in ASL. Please, if anyone is interested in supporting this idea or knows anyone that would be, please, feel free to contact me at Katrina.e.19 "at" gmail.com . Please feel free to repost this on other lists or blogs that you think might be appropriate. I look forward to serving this segment of the Baha'i community. Warm Baha'i Greetings, Katrina Evans

I am a profoundly hard of hearing Baha'i in Omaha. I am looking for other deaf Baha'is as well as information on ASL signs for Baha'i words.

My Dear Deaf Baha'i Friends, My daughter and I are searching for deaf Baha'is to connect with in order to help my granddaughter learn about the Faith (she is 7 years old. Is there a handout with "Baha'i signs" on it? Do deaf Baha'is get together, teach children's classes, have an internet group? Are there any videos for deaf Baha'is? Thank you for any help you can offer. With Much Gratitude from a staunch supporter of my deaf friends! Jeanne Bowden. thanks allot

We are full of joy and thankfulness to learn of our newly elected National Spiritual Assembly. My heart is full to think of our dear Dorothy Nelson and her 40 years serving this divine institution through all of the ups and downs, anxieties and celebrations, and growing strength of the American Baha'i community. She is indeed part of the fabric of our US Baha'i Community and has "given [her] all in the hope of obtaining that which is with Thee." Each and every member of our beloved National Spiritual Assembly has a place in my heart and in my daily prayers. We rely upon your examples and your strengths and celebrate your spiritual leadership as we continue to work together toward the implementation of the Divine Plan and the long awaited entry into the Faith by troops.. thanks allot

Just want to comment that every member is "newly-elected" to an institution each Ridvan, whether for the first time or thrity-first time... so no member is "replacing" another member. To suggest that a person who has been elected to serve is there to replace another is old world order thinking and is contrary to the spirit of Baha'i elections. They are all individuals responsible to God and do not have the role of "filling the shoes" of a previous member, and it is unfair to them to make comparisons. Because there are so few changes on the membership we tend to fall into this trap of seeing one person elected to replace another, rather than seeing the institution as a whole.

Katrina made a brand new website for us. www.signsofunity.spruz.com If you go to Groups, post more info and connect with others who are Deaf, hard of hearing, parents, interpreters, teachers of the Deaf, and related service personnel. Historically speaking...the National Spiritual Assembly set up a wonderful Committee for Services for Deaf/HH Baha'is back in the 80s and we actively addressed issues like...providing interpreters at Nat'l Convention, the 1992 World Congress in NYC and others (SED conference in Orlando also provided interpreters anytime someone indicated they need one). Another issue- we created guidelines for local communities to include and accommodate people with hearing loss. I believe a letter was sent to each LSA (back in the 80s). We also created signs for Baha'i concepts with guidance from native signers and slowly developed consensus among Deaf Baha'is and other signers in USA by sending videos back and forth. We sent final videotape to the NSA for approval...then to the Universal House of Justice...and the response was surprising and unexpected but perfect! This Faith is universal and we will have a universal language. Are these signs appropriate for use everywhere in the world?" and the Committee humbly realized it did not know. So we contacted other NSAs but none were as far along on this as US and we did not want to impose American signs on everyone else. So I think the project was shelved until we can create universally appropriate signs. You may contact me at bloeding "at" gmail.com if you wish. Barbara Loeding

I really wanted to go to this convention, but at the time (and over the next year) I was struggling with anxiety attacks, which I found rather disabling. This year though, I will definitely be going, as I'm finally going back to my own relaxed, usual self.