Our Leader's Activities in the US

Thursday, April 5, Our Leader flew to Washington for a brief me ting with President Nguyen Van Thieu, President of the Republic of Vietnam. Mrs. [Won Pok] Choi, Mr. Neil Salonen, and Mr. Michael Leone accompanied him. Our Leader opened the discussion with President Thieu by alluding to the similarities between their two countries in that both had suffered greatly from Communist aggression. The 25-minute meeting left all concerned grateful that they had communicated on this vital problem.

April Conference at Belvedere

Members of headquarters staff and leaders from almost every state gathered at Belvedere on March 31 for the second conference with our Leader and to celebrate Parents’ Day, Also attending the conference were Mr. Osami Kuboki (President, Japan HSA); Mr. Oyama, (HSA International Business Director); Mr. and Photo date and location unknown Mrs. Dennis Orme (English HSA); and the 50 young men involved in the 100-day training program also participated in parts of the conference. April 1 and 2 were devoted to lectures by Pres. [Young Hwi] Kim mcl to preparation for Parents’ Day. The lectures were resumed for members of the Western States on April 5 and culminated in an examination that evening.

On April 4, our Leader spoke movingly on the subject of “Heart and Love.” He described “heart” as the element which unites subject and object on the individual, family, clan and national levels. This unity gives the subject — mind, individual, clan, or nation — the central position and calls God’s presence there.

Our Leader heard reports from headquarters staff, State Representatives, Mobile Unit Commanders, and Itinerary workers. Other topics discussed were; our Leader announced that future national conferences will be held every 45 days, beginning May 15 at Belvedere. He also outlined the goals for 1974 — four centers of 40 members each in each state. He mentioned that, in regards to training at Belvedere, anyone who has been in the Principle at least three months will be eligible, and that he wants all men to go through such training to be qualified as leaders.

Pioneer Academy

The International Pioneer Academy, San Francisco, is now approved by the State of California to offer courses in World Leadership Development and World Service Training. The San Francisco Family will produce a descriptive brochure to attract people to the Academy. State Representatives and Center

Directors will then find college graduates (not necessarily Family members) from their state for admission to the Pioneer Academy, where they will receive advanced education.

New Foreign Missions

Our Leader announced that by April, 1975, missionaries will be sent to 120 countries. Many new missionaries will be sent to the country of their ancestry. As a first step toward that goal, Miss Izilda Lima [Withers] (State Representative, Arizona) will go to her native Portugal as a missionary at the end of this month. Also Miss Lisa Hunt left for Peru on April 5, the day after the conference.

Parents’ Day Celebration and National Musician’s Contest

The opening of the National Musician’s contest at 8:00 PM on March 31 marked the beginning of the celebration of Parents’ Day. An enormous sun, giant flowers, flowering trees, and paper Mache animals transformed the stage into a colorful Garden of Eden.

Approximately thirty of the fifty-six contestants performed before our Leader and Mother, special guests, conference members, and trainees. Mr. David Kim was master of ceremonies for the contest. [Pianist Nancy Calhoun (Kubo) was the winner.]

At 9:00 AM next day our Leader spoke on the significance Of Parents’ Day, He described God’s joy at the establishment of this day, and yet the limits of that joy until the whole world celebrates this important day. The contest was resumed at 2:00 PM and the performances concluded late in the afternoon. After a delicious turkey dinner, everyone reassembled for the evening entertainment. The judges announced the contest winners, and our Leader presented a cash award to each for the use of their centers.

Skits and songs were then presented to our Parents by the headquarters staff, and leaders. The celebration ended with prayer and refreshments.