(Draft)

 

SPECIAL REPORT:

THE 2008 BUENOS AIRES BOOK FAIR

 

     The 34^th Buenos Aires International Book Fair was held from April 21 to May 12, 2008.  Several months prior to the opening date, negotiations began between the Urantia Foundation (Tamara Wood), the UAI (Marian Hughes), and the IFC (author) for joint sponsorship of a booth for El Libro de Urantia.

 

     The primary goal was, as always, to expose the Revelation to as many people as possible while seeking a distributorship to make the book available in bookstores for purchase by truth seekers.  A secondary purpose was to have our three organizations collaborate on a project in Latin America, thereby displaying our ongoing efforts toward unity with the hope of ending the divisiveness characteristic of past behaviors and to create a model for future efforts.

 

     The costs of the project, including the price of booth space at the fair, construction of a stand, and a salary to Carlos Rubinsky for his time and labor was a total of $5,100 – each group contributing $1,700.  The original plan of the IFC was to send two representative of the IFC Committee (Susan Ransbottom and Dolores Nice) to join in hosting the booth, and two Latins (Agustin Arellano, Mexico and Nelida Oliver, from Ecuador but with strong ties to Argentina).  Circumstances conspired against Susan and Dolores from attending; leaving Agustin and Nelida as representative of the IFC.

 

     We are all happy to report the primary goal of attracting hundreds of people to the booth and finding an Argentine distributor was most successful (see Tamar Wood’s article in the Urantia Foundation’s News Online, Volume 2, Issue 2. June 2008).  However, the secondary goal of the effort toward organizational unity was, in the author’s opinion, a step backward; and for the following reasons:

 

- the plaque or sign.  After many negotiations about the display of the booth, it was agreed that no group names would be displayed.  We did agree, however, on the wording (see attached) of a small sign or plaque to be hung at the booth indicating sponsorship by our three organizations.  It never happened!  Excuses were made, but the sign never appeared as part of the booth. 

 

- our brochure.  Much conflict arose because the IFC brochures were not acceptable to the UF or UAI because the brochures (see attached) were “out of the mainstream of the UB community and out of the UB theology”.  By what right, and under whose authority did this spring? This type of behavior harkens back to the Dark Ages.  Then, to make matters worse, Neldia and Agustin were prevented from actually handing out the brochures under the guise that during prior negotiations we agreed to wait for people to first ask for them.  We did have a conversation about it, but it was not agreed upon; only one person’s agenda.  This seems to go to the heart of our differences.  Because one person or group prefers to wait for someone to ask them for a Book, brochure, or information and another person or group prefers to offer someone a Book, brochure, or information does not make one right and the other wrong; just different.

 

- spiritual vitamins handouts.  Spiritual vitamins are small tightly wrapped pieces of paper that, when the tape is removed and unrolled, contain a single quote from the UB.  It has been a popular ice-breaker for our outreach activities since Larry and Donna Whelan first embarked on their ministry of producing thousands them.  Bullying tactics were used to prevent handing out spiritual vitamins and told that this made the booth activities appear like a “circus”

 

- called rebels.  The last indignation came when at least one of the Argentine helpers at the booth was told to not talk or associate with Agustin and Nelida because they are “rebels”.  What greater damage could be done to a kingdom believer than to be called a rebel?  Agustin and Nelida were called “too sensitive”.  You can decide for yourself.  But I would defy the reader to find in Latin America two more loving, knowledgeable, sincerely motivated kingdom believers than Agustin and Nelida.  To be treated with such disrespect is unacceptable and will not happen again.

 

     The IFC entered into the agreement of having a collaborative effort at the Buenos Aires Book Fair in Argentina with the Urantia Foundation and the Urantia Association International with the hope of continuing the efforts of unifying the readers in Latin America.  Additionally, the hope was that this would create a model to be used for future collaborative projects in the international arena.  However, we must be willing to honestly and scrupulously evaluate our thoughts, feelings, and experiences; without which we will blunder into the same mistakes.  Unless or until drastic changes are made in the attitude and approach toward each other, and the IFC is in fact, treated as an equal partner, further collaborations will have to await a fuller ripening of time.

 

Submitted with great love and affections,

 

Buck Weimer, Chairman

International Fellowship Committee

 

 

 

     

 

    

 

(DRAFT)