Source: The Times-Picayune
On May 11, 2000, The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, Louisiana reported that Diana Ancker Broussard of LaPlace, LA attended the U.S. National Convention of the Baha'i Faith as a delegate from April 27-30, 2000 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She is one of the 165 delegates that were elected last October to represent 133,000 members of the Baha'i Faith in 48 states. The delegates govern and guide the Baha'i Faith through the national council, called the National Spiritual Assembly. Broussard spoke about the election process: "The elections are unique because there are not prepared ballots, and no nomination system...Every adult member of the Baha'i community is eligible for election. After prayer, each delegate writes down the names of nine people he or she thinks best exemplify the qualities of loyalty, selflessness, devotion, a well-trained mind, of recognized ability, and mature experience."