 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRLoving Greetings to each one of you, A few days ago, in the wee hours of the morning, as I was thinking about the coming day, my tasks, and many unanswered questions, I called out to Baba. I heard these words: "You will find what you seek in the depths of your own heart." Of course, I wrote these words down so that I would remember them and return to them. And each time during the week, when I was puzzled and had no answers, this beautiful idea returned to me. In times of change, I try to remember that the process of change is an invitation to chart a new path. In the words of the wonderful Spanish poet, Antonio Machado, "The path is made by walking, by walking you make a path." When change beckons us to listen, our feet plant themselves in new soil. I am happy to share a couple of important updates that have been happening in our continued journey together. Recently, Bruce Felknor joined the MAC Board. We welcome Bruce's well-grounded experience and knowledge, which will help MAC continue to serve Baba and the mission of preserving His legacy. And the long-awaited roof project is about to begin. Once the roof repair is completed, and we receive a certificate of occupancy, we will be able to move into the second floor of the building, to fulfill our mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing things related to Beloved Baba. Of course, the remainder of the building, not yet renovated, will ultimately be a wonderful space for the future. To all of our friends from around the world, I thank you for your interest and generosity toward Meher Archive Collective. I am certain that your good will has helped us move forward, and now it appears that it will be happening rapidly. In His Loving Embrace, Evie [email protected] 203.915.8017 LIBRARY UPDATE |
 | The Meher New Life Library has recently received "Helen Dahm: Ein Kuss der Ganzen Welt" (roughly, "Helen Dahm: A Kiss to the Whole World"), a new book about the Swiss Expressionist artist Helen Dahm. Dahm famously painted the interior of Meher Baba's Samadhi in Meherabad during the 1930s. This German-language publication, written by six art specialists and published with support of the Helen Dahm Museum, offers an overview of her astounding body of work painted during her long life. The library staff actively seeks out rare and unique materials to support future Baba lovers and researchers in discovering the connections and nuances of Meher Baba’s ever-unfolding Advent. |
ARCHIVES CORNER
by Elaine Cox
As we look forward to occupying the Red Oak building, the archival work continues in private studios. The Amy and Alan Romanczuk Collection, including items from Eric and Heather Nadel, has been completed.
Ongoing efforts continue on the extensive Shaw Family Collection, a significant resource. It is a wonderful and touching collection that includes Darwin Shaw’s letters, poetry, and meticulous notes written in preparation for talks of Baba to groups around the country. Darwin’s love for Baba radiates from every page. This collection also holds an invaluable record of correspondence between Elizabeth Patterson and Darwin during the establishment of the Myrtle Beach Center. For much of that time, Elizabeth was in India with Baba while Darwin, on-site, diligently followed up on every detail of her (and Baba’s) direction through letters and cables.
As we look forward to occupying the Red Oak building, the archival work continues in private studios. The Amy and Alan Romanczuk Collection, including items from Eric and Heather Nadel, has been completed.
Ongoing efforts continue on the extensive Shaw Family Collection, a significant resource. It is a wonderful and touching collection that includes Darwin Shaw’s letters, poetry, and meticulous notes written in preparation for talks of Baba to groups around the country. Darwin’s love for Baba radiates from every page. This collection also holds an invaluable record of correspondence between Elizabeth Patterson and Darwin during the establishment of the Myrtle Beach Center. For much of that time, Elizabeth was in India with Baba while Darwin, on-site, diligently followed up on every detail of her (and Baba’s) direction through letters and cables.
An assortment of treasures from the Shaw Family Collection, including correspondence from Mani to Jeanne Shaw
BUILDING RENOVATION PROGRESS
by Hugh Huntington
At long last, we are in the final stages of negotiating with a roofing company to repair the roof over the auditorium. Following a successful fundraising campaign at the end of 2024, we have identified a contractor to perform the work, in cooperation with Peter Nordeen, who provides insight into the unique features of this roof. Extensive repairs are needed, including the replacement of a substantial amount of boards and support structure before the new roofing materials are installed. The flat portion of the roof will soon have a slight, two-inch rise in the middle, tapering down to the edges. This will prevent water from pooling on the roof and greatly extend its lifespan. Thanks again to Art Nordeen for lending us his bucket lift and tractor, which greatly reduces the expense of renting the equipment.
At long last, we are in the final stages of negotiating with a roofing company to repair the roof over the auditorium. Following a successful fundraising campaign at the end of 2024, we have identified a contractor to perform the work, in cooperation with Peter Nordeen, who provides insight into the unique features of this roof. Extensive repairs are needed, including the replacement of a substantial amount of boards and support structure before the new roofing materials are installed. The flat portion of the roof will soon have a slight, two-inch rise in the middle, tapering down to the edges. This will prevent water from pooling on the roof and greatly extend its lifespan. Thanks again to Art Nordeen for lending us his bucket lift and tractor, which greatly reduces the expense of renting the equipment.
VOLUNTEERING UPDATE
Volunteering: A Year of Growth and Opportunities Ahead
by Maria Brummel
Last year was an incredible one for our volunteer community! We are happy to share that volunteer hours increased approximately 11% in 2024, reflecting the generosity, dedication, and passion of those who support our mission. We couldn’t be more grateful.As we look ahead, we are excited to expand our volunteer opportunities even further. Stay tuned—details on these volunteer roles will be shared later this year.
In the meantime, if you’ve been thinking about volunteering, don't hesitate to join us! Whether you’re new or a returning volunteer, we welcome you to help preserve Meher Baba's legacy for many years to come.
Last year was an incredible one for our volunteer community! We are happy to share that volunteer hours increased approximately 11% in 2024, reflecting the generosity, dedication, and passion of those who support our mission. We couldn’t be more grateful.As we look ahead, we are excited to expand our volunteer opportunities even further. Stay tuned—details on these volunteer roles will be shared later this year.
In the meantime, if you’ve been thinking about volunteering, don't hesitate to join us! Whether you’re new or a returning volunteer, we welcome you to help preserve Meher Baba's legacy for many years to come.
 | Sign up today! Click here to fill out an application. Thank you for your continued support—let's keep the momentum going! |
VOLUNTEERS CORNER
Meet Bruce Felknor - New Meher Archive Collective Board Member
by Michael Ivey
The past quarter saw a new board member join the MAC Board of Directors. He is well-known to the Baba community, Bruce Felknor, the husband of Jeanne, whom we profiled in the last newsletter. Bruce and Jeanne met in India in 1995 and were married four months later upon returning to the USA, presenting an almost literal example of “a match made in heaven.”
Since being caught in Baba’s net in 1979, Bruce has been a regular participant in Baba-group activities. He has also served on the boards of the Meher Baba Information Center of Chicago (Chicago being his hometown until moving to Asheville in 2014), Meher Fund, Inc., which supports the Meher Free Dispensary near Meherazad (India), and most recently, the Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
I spoke with Bruce at his home in West Asheville and asked about his “coming to Baba” story. He said that while he had been raised in the Presbyterian Church, he did not ultimately become a communicant — although he had retained a grounding in and love for God prior to encountering Baba.
His Baba story began with a “chance” meeting with a Baba-lover in Munich, Germany, in 1979. This contact spoke to him about Meher Baba and gave him a “Don’t worry, be happy – I will help you” card. While he did not conclude then and there that Baba was God in human form, he experienced a deep and ineffable joy at seeing Baba’s photograph and retired that night wondering of Baba: “Don’t worry – don’t worry about what? Be happy – how can I be happy? You will help me – how will you help me?”
With a whetted appetite for spiritual search, for the next several weeks Bruce turned his attention to reading the New Testament of the Bible, which he felt was the best thing he’d ever read. Later, while traveling on a train in Italy, he came to feel if he could only meet his Baba-contact again, he’d like to know more about Meher Baba. With that thought, he looked up only to find his Baba-contact standing outside the train compartment, looking at him!
These experiences sparked a real interest in Meher Baba, which culminated in a transcendent experience in the hills around Portofino, Italy, as he witnessed a simultaneous sunset and full-moon rise. During this experience, Bruce was given the conviction of Baba’s divinity.
As to his motivation for serving on the board of Meher Archive Collective, Bruce said that he was just very happy to be participating in MAC, whose mission is to preserve and share Baba’s legacy for those who are drawn to him and those interested to know more of the beautiful advent of the Divine Beloved.
The past quarter saw a new board member join the MAC Board of Directors. He is well-known to the Baba community, Bruce Felknor, the husband of Jeanne, whom we profiled in the last newsletter. Bruce and Jeanne met in India in 1995 and were married four months later upon returning to the USA, presenting an almost literal example of “a match made in heaven.”
Since being caught in Baba’s net in 1979, Bruce has been a regular participant in Baba-group activities. He has also served on the boards of the Meher Baba Information Center of Chicago (Chicago being his hometown until moving to Asheville in 2014), Meher Fund, Inc., which supports the Meher Free Dispensary near Meherazad (India), and most recently, the Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
I spoke with Bruce at his home in West Asheville and asked about his “coming to Baba” story. He said that while he had been raised in the Presbyterian Church, he did not ultimately become a communicant — although he had retained a grounding in and love for God prior to encountering Baba.
His Baba story began with a “chance” meeting with a Baba-lover in Munich, Germany, in 1979. This contact spoke to him about Meher Baba and gave him a “Don’t worry, be happy – I will help you” card. While he did not conclude then and there that Baba was God in human form, he experienced a deep and ineffable joy at seeing Baba’s photograph and retired that night wondering of Baba: “Don’t worry – don’t worry about what? Be happy – how can I be happy? You will help me – how will you help me?”
With a whetted appetite for spiritual search, for the next several weeks Bruce turned his attention to reading the New Testament of the Bible, which he felt was the best thing he’d ever read. Later, while traveling on a train in Italy, he came to feel if he could only meet his Baba-contact again, he’d like to know more about Meher Baba. With that thought, he looked up only to find his Baba-contact standing outside the train compartment, looking at him!
These experiences sparked a real interest in Meher Baba, which culminated in a transcendent experience in the hills around Portofino, Italy, as he witnessed a simultaneous sunset and full-moon rise. During this experience, Bruce was given the conviction of Baba’s divinity.
As to his motivation for serving on the board of Meher Archive Collective, Bruce said that he was just very happy to be participating in MAC, whose mission is to preserve and share Baba’s legacy for those who are drawn to him and those interested to know more of the beautiful advent of the Divine Beloved.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
by John Dalisky
We Did It!
Meher Archive Collective Reached its 2024 Fundraising Goal!
We are thrilled to announce that the Meher Archive Collective (MAC) has successfully met and exceeded our end-of-2024 fundraising goal! This remarkable achievement is a direct result of the incredible generosity and dedication of our donors and volunteers. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Your contributions – whether through financial support or dedicated volunteer hours – have made a tangible difference. We are now fully funded to complete the much-needed roof repairs. This crucial project will ensure the long-term preservation of our invaluable archives.
Beyond the financial success, we were deeply moved by the outpouring of positivity and unwavering support for MAC's mission to preserve the legacy of Meher Baba and make it accessible to all, now and in the future. Your belief in our work fuels our passion and strengthens our commitment.
As we look ahead, MAC is focused on expanding our reach within the Baba community. We are actively working to grow our list of contacts and connect with more individuals who share our dedication to preserving this precious legacy. We invite you to help us in this effort by encouraging your friends and fellow Baba lovers to join our mailing list. Simply direct them to https://www.meherarchive.org/subscribe.html to stay updated on our progress, events, and new archive discoveries.
We Did It!
Meher Archive Collective Reached its 2024 Fundraising Goal!
We are thrilled to announce that the Meher Archive Collective (MAC) has successfully met and exceeded our end-of-2024 fundraising goal! This remarkable achievement is a direct result of the incredible generosity and dedication of our donors and volunteers. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Your contributions – whether through financial support or dedicated volunteer hours – have made a tangible difference. We are now fully funded to complete the much-needed roof repairs. This crucial project will ensure the long-term preservation of our invaluable archives.
Beyond the financial success, we were deeply moved by the outpouring of positivity and unwavering support for MAC's mission to preserve the legacy of Meher Baba and make it accessible to all, now and in the future. Your belief in our work fuels our passion and strengthens our commitment.
As we look ahead, MAC is focused on expanding our reach within the Baba community. We are actively working to grow our list of contacts and connect with more individuals who share our dedication to preserving this precious legacy. We invite you to help us in this effort by encouraging your friends and fellow Baba lovers to join our mailing list. Simply direct them to https://www.meherarchive.org/subscribe.html to stay updated on our progress, events, and new archive discoveries.
| Thank you once again for your incredible support. Together, we are ensuring that the legacy of Meher Baba will continue to inspire generations to come. In His Love, The Meher Archive Collective Team |  |
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
MAC IT/IS: Building the Digital Foundation for the Future
by John Dalisky
The Meher Archive Collective's IT/IS group plays a vital, behind-the-scenes role in ensuring the smooth operation and continued growth of MAC. We are dedicated to maintaining and supporting the technology tools that empower our Archive, Library, and Administration teams to carry out their essential work. As we look ahead to 2025, we have several key projects planned that will significantly enhance MAC’s technological capabilities and outreach.
Moving to the MAC Building: Our primary focus will be on the seamless transition of our technology infrastructure to our renovated archive wing. We are planning and will execute the move, ensuring minimal disruption and providing comprehensive support to all teams during the move-in process. This includes setting up and optimizing IT-related solutions to support the Archive, Library, and Administration teams in their new space.
Enhancing Community Outreach: We are excited to announce a project underway for the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. This will revolutionize our outreach efforts, enabling us to better connect with and engage our community. We will also be conducting a thorough review of our existing technology tools, ensuring they work synergistically to maximize efficiency and effectiveness with the new CRM tool.
The Meher Archive Collective's IT/IS group plays a vital, behind-the-scenes role in ensuring the smooth operation and continued growth of MAC. We are dedicated to maintaining and supporting the technology tools that empower our Archive, Library, and Administration teams to carry out their essential work. As we look ahead to 2025, we have several key projects planned that will significantly enhance MAC’s technological capabilities and outreach.
Moving to the MAC Building: Our primary focus will be on the seamless transition of our technology infrastructure to our renovated archive wing. We are planning and will execute the move, ensuring minimal disruption and providing comprehensive support to all teams during the move-in process. This includes setting up and optimizing IT-related solutions to support the Archive, Library, and Administration teams in their new space.
Enhancing Community Outreach: We are excited to announce a project underway for the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. This will revolutionize our outreach efforts, enabling us to better connect with and engage our community. We will also be conducting a thorough review of our existing technology tools, ensuring they work synergistically to maximize efficiency and effectiveness with the new CRM tool.
| Strengthening Data Security: Data integrity and security are paramount. We are committed to continually refining our data information backup processes to guarantee the safe, secure, and readily available copies of all data entered by our teams. Currently, we have local and cloud-based backups, with the cloud backup residing in a region outside of North Carolina. In 2025, we will be enhancing these processes and exploring further automation to ensure the utmost protection of our valuable data. Our team is dedicated to providing reliable and innovative technology solutions that support MAC's mission. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and are committed to building a strong digital foundation for the future of the Meher Archive Collective. Our Main MAC Computer, better known as "The Beast." |  |
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
AMARTITHI and BABA’S BIRTHDAY: The Western North Carolina Baba group held a loving Amartithi remembrance on January 31st, with readings, film excerpts, and music. Baba’s Birthday was joyfully celebrated by about 90 WNC Baba lovers on February 22nd with lots of music, readings, poetry, humor, and delicious treats.
DHUNI: Our next Dhuni will be on Wednesday, March 12th, at 4 p.m. and located on the lawn of the MAC building. The Dhuni is held on the 12th of each month. Please check your email announcements for reminders and updates. We welcome you, your music, poetry, and stories.
IN TOUCH WITH MAC: MAC’s “Baba Zoom” Program “In Touch with Meher Archive Collective – Cherishing Meher Baba’s Legacy” is a bi-monthly program featuring a variety of topics related to preserving Baba's legacy. Most recently, Steve Berry and Scott O’Neil shared stories about their experiences with Adi K Irani. That video will be soon available on our YouTube channel for those who missed the live presentation. All are welcome to join us on BabaZoom.net for our next live program on Saturday, April 26th, 11:00 a.m. Details to come.
YOUTUBE: Visit Meher Archive Collective’s YouTube Channel and check out our videos. We have numerous talks and Q&A’s on Meher Baba’s Life and Work, the most recent being Ward Parks' talks on Baba’s New Life and the recently discovered manuscript in Baba’s hand. Also on MAC’s channel are Featured Archives, Music, MAC updates, and the “In Touch with MAC” series.
DHUNI: Our next Dhuni will be on Wednesday, March 12th, at 4 p.m. and located on the lawn of the MAC building. The Dhuni is held on the 12th of each month. Please check your email announcements for reminders and updates. We welcome you, your music, poetry, and stories.
IN TOUCH WITH MAC: MAC’s “Baba Zoom” Program “In Touch with Meher Archive Collective – Cherishing Meher Baba’s Legacy” is a bi-monthly program featuring a variety of topics related to preserving Baba's legacy. Most recently, Steve Berry and Scott O’Neil shared stories about their experiences with Adi K Irani. That video will be soon available on our YouTube channel for those who missed the live presentation. All are welcome to join us on BabaZoom.net for our next live program on Saturday, April 26th, 11:00 a.m. Details to come.
YOUTUBE: Visit Meher Archive Collective’s YouTube Channel and check out our videos. We have numerous talks and Q&A’s on Meher Baba’s Life and Work, the most recent being Ward Parks' talks on Baba’s New Life and the recently discovered manuscript in Baba’s hand. Also on MAC’s channel are Featured Archives, Music, MAC updates, and the “In Touch with MAC” series.
Recently added videos:
- In Touch with MAC - Ray Lee on Ray's work recording, editing, and digitizing Baba talks and music
- In Touch with MAC - Scott O'Neil & Steve Berry two westerners who developed a relationship with Adi K Irani in the mid-seventies
- Meher Baba and Evolution – 1, Meher Baba and Evolution – 2A, Meher Baba and Evolution – 2B Susan McKendree's colorful series of live talks exploring the theory of evolution and comparing it to Meher Baba's explanations of the process of the development of consciousness, in 3 parts