Dear friends,

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Lancaster warmly invites you to this year’s Unit Convention on Sunday, October 1, at Franklin and Marshall College in the Barshinger Life Sciences and Philosophy Building. Whether driving east or west on Harrisburg Pike, you will turn into a large campus parking lot that is across from (not behind) the Iron Hill Restaurant (781 Harrisburg Pike).  The convention site is the second building on the right. 

Registration will be from 9:30 to 10:30 am during which time there will be joyous opportunities to greet each other, converse, and enjoy a continental breakfast.  The Convention will proceed from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. Heavenly music and prayers, the reverent casting of ballots, and vigorous consultation will be the order of the day. 

All who come are welcome to bring a simple bag lunch to eat during our noon break; or, immediately after the program, you can visit any of a variety of restaurants near the college. 

There will be a children’s program for ages 5 to 11. You can preregister children by notifying Michael Penn at michael.penn@fandm.edu or 717 341 8932. 

Youth 12 to 17 can choose to assist with the children’s program or participate in consultation on the convention floor.  Although one must be 21 or older to serve as an elected delegate, Baha’is of ages 18 to 20 can now participate in the voting process as electors, and it is encouraged that they do so. 

Please bring your Baha’i membership card for verification purposes as that will ensure the integrity of our election process. If there are Baha’is who have recently moved into your areas or who have recently declared, please be sure that changes of address have been reported and declarations registered.  Otherwise, these Baha’is will not be on the voting list furnished by the National Center and will not be able to vote.  They can, however, participate in consultation. 

We long to see your radiant faces, but, if you are unable to attend Convention, please mail your absentee ballot to Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Lancaster, PA, c/o Chief Teller, P.O. Box 758, Lancaster, PA 17608-0758. 

In addition, Baha’is who wish to vote absentee can use the online balloting system (OBS) that will be available the week before Convention.  If you have an online services account with the National Baha’i Center, simply click TOOLS and then Online Balloting System (OBS). If you need to create an online services account (helpful in so many ways), go to www.bahai.us/community/createbos and follow the instructions to create an account. 

You may address any questions regarding the Convention to lancasterlsa@gmail.com. 

We look forward to surrounding you with those qualities that the Beloved Master told us must permeate our gatherings: “Fellowship, fellowship! Love, love! Unity, unity!” 

Our loving greetings to all, 

Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Lancaster, PA