The Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Lancaster warmly invites you to this year’s Unit Convention on Sunday, October 2, at Franklin and Marshall College in the Barshinger Life Sciences and Philosophy Building.  

    Registration will be from 9:30 to 10:30 am during which time there will be joyous opportunity to greet each other, converse, and enjoy a continental breakfast.  The Convention program 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.  Masking is considered optional at this time, but should there be a significant uptake of Covid cases in Central Pennsylvania in September, then masking will become advisable.

    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.  If you are bringing children who will participate in the program, please preregister them 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 the consultation on the convention floor.  Although one must be 21 or older to serve as an elected delegate, young people 18 to 20 can now participate in the voting process as electors and it is heartily encouraged that they do so. 

      Please bring your Baha’i membership card for identification and verification purposes as that will facilitate the registration process greatly and ensure the integrity of our election process.  If you would happen to forget your card, please present a driver’s license or other identification that verifies your residence in our electoral unit.  

      It is possible that Baha’is who have declared or moved into our area shortly before October 2 might not appear on the registration list.  If you are aware of someone in that situation, please tell them that they should be prepared to present a Baha’i id number and identification verifying their address.  If they lack either of these, two other Baha’is will need to vouch for them at registration.

     We long to see your radiant faces, but, if you are unable to attend Convention, please mail your absentee ballot to the 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 the Convention (but no later than October 1, please).  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!”

Directions:

Driving east on Harrisburg Pike toward Lancaster, you will make a right turn into a large campus parking lot.  The Convention will be held in the second building on the right after you enter the lot.  It would be useful to set your GPS or Google Maps to 781 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, the address of Iron Hill Restaurant, which is directly across from where you will turn.

Our loving greetings to all,

Stewart Smith, secretary

Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Lancaster, PA