ABOUT |
MISSION:
To collect, preserve, and share Meher Baba’s Divine legacy of materials, artifacts, and words with integrity, love, and transparency for the benefit of humanity. |
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Meher Archive Collective seeks to create a safe space to preserve knowledge and objects associated with Meher Baba’s advent. Technology changes quickly, and we intend to stay on top of the changes, perhaps causing us to rapidly adapt and convert old stored media into new formats.
Primary goals:
SHARE KNOWLEDGE & RESOURCES
Meher Archive Collective intends to help other Baba archives in need of any of the services mentioned on page 1. Insofar as our resources allow, trained volunteers can organize work trips to help with on-location projects (scanning, rehousing etc.), as well as perform database work from home. Our goal is to work in close cooperation with all Meher Baba archives for the mutual benefit of His lovers and humanity as a whole. This close cooperation can lead to “complete” records being gathered digitally, and then stored in strategic locations around the world to reduce the chance of any one regional calamity (fire, war, or natural disaster) from wiping out a whole collection. The tools and the talent are available. Will you join us in donating time or financial resources to make this vision a reality? For more information, email us. |
Meher Archive Office
What we do:• Surveying
Work with Baba archives and individuals to find out what is out there and who needs help. • Planning / Assessments How much Baba material does a person have and what resources do they need to archive? • Rehousing Placing physical documents and objects in protective containers in an organized way. • Conservation Long term care and storage in a safe, climate-controlled facility. • Digitization Scanning paper, transferring old audio / video to digital. • Digital Archive / Database Organization and processing of digital files searchable by date and subject; protecting the files with redundancy, duplication; staying ahead of technological changes • Sharing / Dissemination Ongoing searchable website hub, connecting all Baba archives. Keeping copies of “complete” database in strategic places around the world with a 700 year preservation plan. |
THE TEAM
Board of Directors
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TEAM — following COVID-19 social distance guidelines
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Scott is a teacher and an acupuncturist, as well as the principal of A Healing Partnership. He was formerly the president of the National Foundation of Integrative Medicine in California. Scott travels internationally, teaching and leading workshops and retreats on various aspects of Chinese Medicine in particular pulse diagnosis, Virtue Healing and Family Constellation traditions.
Beginning twenty years ago, Scott pioneered the introduction of an advanced system of Chinese Pulse diagnosis in Europe, reaching hundreds of students as well as the next generation of teachers. Rooted in his love for Meher Baba, Scott is committed to a life of integrity and service to others, and enjoys bringing together diverse ideas and groups of people. Scott has lived in the Asheville area since 2009. He has a passion for travel, both through the external exploration of the world and the internal exploration along the winding and never ending path of self-discovery.
Ken has been the President of Blackman & Blackman Inc for over 30 years, overseeing various endeavors including a Holistic Medical Clinic; a range of educational services offering tutoring, special needs support, and programs for adolescents in rehab; and small business coaching.
In his spare time Ken was one of the original founders and developers of an ecological, award-winning, co-housing community. Six years ago Ken moved to Asheville where he fulfilled his longtime dream of building his own home. Having had a life-altering experience with Meher Baba in 1973, Ken has been able to fulfil another dream, namely serving Baba, as a founding member of MAC and as project manager for the Red Oak School refurbishment. Nine years ago, on his 60th birthday, Ken decided to set about preparing to climb Mount Wrightson. Having summited the mountain, his wife Debby and sons Steven and Saunder were glad to see him arrive home safely, at which point he headed straight out to march in the Dia de Los Muertos parade. Vacant – Treasurer
Renee initially heard about Meher Baba while a student at Stanford. She made her first pilgrimage to Meherabad in 1971 and later spent nearly a year in India in 1976. Renee has been an active member of Meher Baba communities in Berkeley, New Mexico, Portland, and now in Asheville.
Renee has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 25 years of experience. She has worked with children, families and adults in clinical and school settings and has trained and coordinated the Crisis Response Team for a local school district. In addition, Renee co-founded an award winning nonprofit program for Native American students in Albuquerque. Renee is passionate about preserving and sharing artifacts, not only from Meher Baba, but also from the Mandali whose lives of love and service are an enduring inspiration to her.
Anne has been serving as MAC's Library Committee Chair. She has a Masters Degree in Library Science and has worked in various positions as director of a public library, director of an alcohol and drug abuse resource center, and as outreach librarian over nine branch libraries and a four county bookmobile service. The library received national attention based on its response in assisting evacuees during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Anne worked closely with community organizations in setting up ongoing collaborations following the disasters. Anne brings library administrative skills in support of organizing collections for the MAC community. From assessing donations to writing policies and procedures, she continues to be involved in library operations. Anne enjoys helping people find the right book and searching for information on a wide range of topics.
She is married to Chris Barker and is a proud grandmother. Since 1978 she has followed Meher Baba. Anne is delighted to be in Asheville, and is happy to offer service to the MAC Board.
Ron loves the notion that a group of Baba Lovers are collaborating to construct a memorial, archive and a Center for the Asheville community and the world. He believes that posterity demands that efforts be made to preserve and make available Baba materials that are scattered across the Baba World. He is proud to be added to the Board and looks forward to bringing his worldly experience and love of Baba to the work before us.
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Hugh has spent the majority of his career establishing and running two consulting groups in the field of organizational behavior. Prior to semi-retirement, he was also a Permaculture instructor, raised organic Christmas trees, and developed the first eco-friendly housing community in Madison County. Hugh continues to be part of a family property management business along with his two daughters.
Hugh's most proud accomplishment to date is his work in aviation flight safety; along with NASA and four airlines he developed models of communication and problem solving for the enhancement of flight safety. Hugh’s introduction to Baba’s writings was on his first visit to the Meher Center in Myrtle Beach where he discovered the Discourses; this experience had a profound impact on both his professional work and personal life. Hugh is passionate about the need to preserve Baba-related treasures, not least because he believes that the purity of Christianity was compromised due to lost, hidden and/or modified documents. Hugh loves spending time with his four grandchildren and two daughters, and continues to enjoy private flying; his most recent adventure having been lessons in acrobatic maneuvers.
Until recently Evie was a professor in a graduate program of art therapy in Connecticut and taught Bioethics at Yale; she moved to Asheville a few months ago. Evie is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a board-certified art therapist. She teaches courses on the use of mandalas, journal writing, and art making, as a pathway to personal integration and wholeness. In recent years Evie has organized humanitarian art therapy projects in the United States, India, and Jamaica. She currently has an active practice as a printmaking artist, working from the Asheville Print Studio in the River Arts District.
Evie’s journey to Meher Baba began after she graduated from UC Berkeley, when she began a two-year odyssey across Europe and Asia, eventually leading to Meherabad. She has traveled to India very often and is deeply inspired by the unique ways in which the Mandali embodied Baba's teachings. Evie had the good fortune to spend six months in India working with Dr. Goher in the medical clinic at Meherazad, as well as assisting Arnavaz Dadachanji with her spiritual autobiography. She served on the board at Meherana for a number of years in the nineties, and again in 2014-2015.
Jean and her husband Phil moved from New Jersey to Asheville four years ago and have happily become part of the Meher Baba Community. Jean is one of the founding members of the MAC board.
Previously, Jean was a realtor, an insurance agent and the owner of a successful skin care business. Although retired, Jean continues to advise her women friends on how to take care of their complexions whenever asked. While living in NJ, Jean and Phil were both active volunteers at Beloved Archives where Jean learned how important it is to preserve Meher Baba’s treasures; her passion continues through her work at MAC, both as a board member and as an archiving volunteer. Jean and Phil became hooked on cruising last year and are now dedicated to having at least one cruise a year; when the weather in Western North Carolina turns dreary--they cruise away to a warmer place.
Marie is delighted to join the MAC Board and support efforts to preserve Baba treasures for generations to come. In addition to promoting the accessibility and preservation of Baba items, she brings a background in supporting good governance, transparency, accountability and financial sustainability within organizations. She grew up in a Baba family, and admires those who see themselves as stewards of a shared legacy, of which MAC is an integral part.
Rabia is deeply impressed to witness the hard work, dedication and love of so many that is making MAC and the Meher New Life Center a reality. She is honored to lend her support to the mission of MAC as it works to preserve the sacred writings, stories and materials related to Meher Baba. Items from Baba and His close disciples have meant a great deal to her and she can only imagine how precious such collections will be to the future generations of Baba lovers. Rabia.Vaughns@meherarchive.org
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Scott Tower: Scott.Tower@Meherarchive.org
Ken Blackman: Ken.Blackman@Meherarchive.org
Renee Bussanich: Renee.Bussanich@Meherarhive.org
Jean Brunet: Jean.Brunet@Meherarchive.org
Hugh Huntington: Hugh.Huntington@Meherarchive.org
Anne Barker: Anne.Barker@Meherarchive.org
Evie Lindemann: Evie.Lindemann@Meherarchive.org
Ron Kantor: Ron.Kantor@Meherarchive.org
Marie Principe: Marie.Principe@Meherarchive.org
Rabia Vaughns: Rabia.Vaughns@Meherarchive.org
Ken Blackman: Ken.Blackman@Meherarchive.org
Renee Bussanich: Renee.Bussanich@Meherarhive.org
Jean Brunet: Jean.Brunet@Meherarchive.org
Hugh Huntington: Hugh.Huntington@Meherarchive.org
Anne Barker: Anne.Barker@Meherarchive.org
Evie Lindemann: Evie.Lindemann@Meherarchive.org
Ron Kantor: Ron.Kantor@Meherarchive.org
Marie Principe: Marie.Principe@Meherarchive.org
Rabia Vaughns: Rabia.Vaughns@Meherarchive.org