Having just returned form Chicago and a very pleasant and exciting meeting with about 100 very enthusiastic students from all over the country, I can report to you that the Russian translation is now being sold in Russia. How do I know? I saw together with our colleagues a rough video work-in-progress showing the first copies being delivered by a group from the Foundation including trustees Tom Burns and Georges Dupont. This 22 minute video will be completed I am promised in time for us to have a copy for our April 19, 1997 get together here at Harmony Hill. (Unless there is some unforeseen hitch, it will be available.)
This is a very exciting time in the young history of this revelation. The excitement and enthusiasm in Chicago was so great. It is very difficult to describe. Seppo Kanerva our brilliant Chairman of the Translation Committee reported to us that 18 translations are in progress in one form or another. The Dutch translation is ready for print. We can all be proud of the Foundations tremendous effort to meet their trust obligation of making this revelation available to all of the Peoples of the World.
Speaking of the Foundations efforts the entire thrust of our two day meeting in Chicago was clearly a call from the Foundation Leadership asking for input on what the readership wants them to be doing and no holds were barred in frank discussions in group meetings.
This writer had the privilege and responsibility of facilitating a group that included two former Forum members. Kenton Stevens and Mary Lou Hale were very helpful, pointed and informative, critical, and above all, knowledgeable regarding what has happened and what they would like to see happen. To say these meetings were lively is the understatement of the year. Yes, all fellowship directors and governing bodies were invited and there were some in attendance. John Hale who works in the Fellowship office and Mo and Jennifer Siegal are two who I visited with at the meeting. It was the most positive call for a united effort by all students to heed the Master's words, "The harvest is plenteous, but the workers few," that I have witnessed in the last few years.
Tonia Baney our hard working executive Director announced to one and all,
The Train has pulled out Soldiers.
WE are on our way to be about our Father’s work.
Let’s all get aboard.
While there is only a small amount of business to transact at our meeting here on April 19th, I promise to feed well that day and will do my best to have the video here for viewing on the translations.