Passing of University founder, prominent philanthropist, Dr. Eloy Anello [SERVICE], [LOVE]

A truly dedicated servant to humanity, founder of Bolivias premiere University, Nur, has passed - bless his memory!

"No one who crossed his path could fail to be touched by his unbounded energy, by his sincere love of humanity, which he brought to every enterprise he undertook in service to the Faith." - The Universal House of Justice (full message below)

A favorite prayer of his:

If it be Thy pleasure, make me to grow as a tender herb in the meadows of Thy grace, that the gentle winds of Thy will may stir me up and bend me into conformity with Thy pleasure, in such wise that my movement and my stillne...ss may be wholly directed by Thee. - Baha'u'llah http://is.gd/45IDx

Flowers at the World Centre.

Listen to an edifying talk on Social and Economic Development (for download, in middle of the list) here: http://sed.skyrunner.net/list.php.
Two papers written by him on Moral Leadership:
http://is.gd/45His, http://is.gd/45HjB.
A report on a project he helped initiate: http://is.gd/45HNv
Facebook group in honor of his memory:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/in-memory-of-Eloy-Anello/145648438862

A member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Eloy Anello, of Bolivia, spoke on the topic "The Life of Dr. Muhajir" at the "Growth and Victories" conference in Ecuador.

Message from the Universal House of Justice (of October 6 or 7) on the occasion of the passing of Dr. Eloy Anello:

"With heavy hearts we received the news of the passing of Eloy Anello, indefatigable and valiant servant of Baha'u'llah. Nearly forty years ago, as the Nine Year Plan was drawing to a close, we urged the friends everywhere to emulate the Baha'i youth, "whose recent surge forward into the van of proclamation and teaching" was "one of the most encouraging and significant trends in the Faith" and who stormed "the gates of heaven for support in their enterprises by long-sustained, precedent and continuing prayer." Among those who had stepped into the vanguard was dear Eloy, who, as a young man, left the United States and settled in Bolivia in the early 1970s, making it his home and dedicating himself to the upliftment of its people. No one who crossed his path could fail to be touched by his unbounded energy, by his sincere love of humanity, which he brought to every enterprise he undertook in service to the Faith. Especially noteworthy were the valuable contributions he made to the progress of the Cause as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas for two decades. How many young people were awakened to the crying needs of humanity as a result of his efforts in this capacity. How many were galvanized to arise and serve the Cause. So dedicated was he to nurturing young minds that he co-founded Universidad Nur in Santa Cruz--an institution striving to apply Baha'i principles to higher education and to programs for the advancement of the indigenous populations.

"May his life of consecration to the Cause serve as an inspiration to those laboring to meet the requirements of the current stage of the Divine Plan. To his family and many friends, we extend our loving condolences. Our most fervent prayers at the Sacred Threshold join yours for the progress of his noble soul throughout the realms of God. We call on all National Spiritual Assemblies in the Americas to hold memorial gatherings in his honor.

- The Universal House of Justice

Photos copyright Bahá'í International Community
http://media.bahai.org/subjects/5794/details
http://media.bahai.org/subjects/locations/holy_places_hai/shrine_bab_gard/6941/details

Doesn't the world need virtues above all? [INTEGRITY], [JUSTICE], [HONESTY], [COMMITMENT]

Françoise Le Goff: Risking Job by Returning Donor's Money

Thanking donors for a generous response to floods in Namibia

A teaser from an interview with Françoise Le Goff in next week's edition of Inspire magazine.

***

What started off as a volunteer activity with the Red Cross in 1977 in her home town of Brittany, France, ended up as a globe-trotting career. Françoise Le Goff's journey has taken her through Chad, Paris, Geneva, and for the past 10 years, back again to Africa (Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa), working in a number of senior roles. In January 2008 Françoise was appointed head of the southern Africa Zone, making her one of the IFRC's (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) seven most senior representatives in the world.

Returning donor money:

On one mission, Françoise arrived in a country and walked immediately into a situation rampant with allegations of corruption against the National Red Cross Society leadership. At her first meeting with the National Society's board, she warned in diplomatic terms of the risks that the organization faced if it chose to do nothing about these allegations.

Warning given, and nothing changed. The process repeated itself at another board meeting: warning, platitudes and promises, and then no action. "I have had experiences where by applying my own principles I risked my career or my standing," says Françoise, recalling the episode. "But I believe that part of living and working in line with values, means taking risks."

And so, having realized that nothing would change without action on her part, she took the decision to return a large sum of money (over USD 2 million) to the donor as she no longer felt that she could vouch that it would be spent and used appropriately.

"When you take risks, you create a process that inevitably takes on a life of its own. But if the risk is taken on principle – be it the principles of an organization or a combination of an organization's and you own – then you come from a position of strength. Regardless of the outcome of the process, your position will remain strong."

In this case, the process validated her decision. At the National Society's General Assembly, the President of the National Society was hounded from the floor – and eventually out of office – with angry allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Françoise's action had given momentum to the growing sense of frustration within the organization. The timing was right.

EBBF: What did you think was going to happen when you gave back the money? What was at stake in your mind?

Françoise: I was indeed not sure of what would happen. I was new in the country and I did not know or realize the level of frustration amongst the local Red Cross membership. However, I did know the donor and I understood the reputation risks for the organization, both of which were key elements in the decision.

But the key issue in my mind was the fact that beneficiaries and vulnerable people were being deprived of support. I was also very aware that my own reputation – my own integrity – was possibly at stake. If I didn't denounce what was happening, I saw that some would see that I was endorsing it. This gave me the courage to speak out. And in the end, this action triggered a change process that was very positive, and very, very successful in the long run.

I based my actions on a few principles such as honesty, professional integrity, and justice – to be the voice for the voiceless.

Source: http://ebbf.org/blog/?p=994