Newsletter

Newsletter of the Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago

March 2007

Welcome to Our Sunday Morning Programs in March

• “WHAT ETHICAL WOMEN ARE UP TO” is our special program for Sunday, March 4th. Commemorating International Women’s Day, several women of the Society will be interviewed about their lives. They will focus on family and work, what motivates them as ethical persons, and their views on public issues. The program will be accompanied by original musical performances.

• KENAN HEISE, author and retired award-winning Chicago Tribune reporter, speaks on Sunday, March 11th. His topic is “Chicago: City of Creativity and Chaos.” Heise will evoke and discuss historical images of a Chicago that in the words of architect Frank Lloyd Wright “will be the most beautiful city left in the modern world.”

• JOHN BASILE, director of Big Run Wolf Ranch, presents an interactive, intergenerational program, “Understand-ing Our Wild 4-Legged Neighbors,” on Sunday, March 18th. Accompanied by several small animal residents of his unique educational facility, Basile will give both younger and older a chance to learn a lot more about “what might be behind that tree”!

• JAMES COLEY, past president of the North Carolina Society for Ethical Culture, speaks on Sunday, March 25th. His topic is “Beyond Spirituality.” Coley will discuss how the traditional religious language of spirituality has other-worldly connotations to some in the Ethical movement and thus compromises their appreciation of meaning in this world.

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Coming Activities and Events

• Our SUNDAY MORNING COLLOQUIES, led by Ken Novak, are from 9:20 to 10 a.m. in the library. This month’s themes are Patience, on March 4th, Ideals, on March 11th, Forgiving, on March 18th, and Remembering, on March 25th. These small gatherings provide a confidential time and place for us to examine how we live our lives.

• Our next FICTION CIRCLE, led by Ken Novak, is on Sunday, March 4th, at 12:20 p.m. We’ll discuss Geraldine Brooks’ beautifully written Pulitzer Prize winning novel March. It shows the Civil War experiences of a character based both on Bronson Alcott, New England transcendentalist and father of novelist Louisa May Alcott, and the absent father in her classic Little Women.

• Our READERS THEATER GROUP meets again on Monday, March 5th, at 7 p.m. We’ll read excerpts from Insect Play, a satirical social commentary by brothers Karel and Josef Capek. Last month we enjoyed reading Midlife Crisis of Dionysus by Garrison Keillor and The Mother by Paddy Chayevsky. Everyone is welcome. For information, see Susan Burck or Ken Novak.

• Our Second Saturday Coffeehouse, hosted by Vicki Elberfeld, is on March 10th, at 8 p.m. We’ll hear award-winning storyteller Susan Stone in “Plastic on the Sofa and Other Wisdom Tales.” Stone will share poignant and humorous tales from Jewish and other traditions as well as her family’s tsuris (troubles). Signup for our open mike (any genre, all acoustic) begins at 7:30 p.m. There are a $5 minimum donation at the door and moderately priced refreshments.

• Our DOCUMENTARY FILM NIGHT, hosted by Marne Glaser and Paul Ozarowski, is on Friday, March 16th, at 7:30 p.m. We’ll see The Ground Truth, an eye-opening indictment of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Produced by Patricia Foulkrod, this documentary tells the wrenching stories of the toll taken on several returned veterans of the war. There will also be a concurrent showing of a children’s film. Refreshments and a discussion will follow.

• Our ETHNIC DINNER OUT is on Saturday, March 17th, at the Mei Shung Taiwanese and Mandarin restaurant, 5511 N. Broadway, in Chicago. Enjoy unique Asian dishes (but “bring your own booze”). There is free parking at the Catholic church lot across the street.We’ll order at 5:30 p.m. Contact Richard Curren at richard_curren@yahoo.com to say you’re coming.

• Our FILM DISCUSSION GROUP, led by Alan Kimmel, meets on Monday, March 19th, at 7:15 p.m. We’ve again chosen two current films. The Last King of Scotland is a stunning portrayal of Uganda dictator Idi Amin, with Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy and directed by Kevin MacDonald. The Lives of Others is an English-subtitled film about oppressive political surveillance in East Germany, with Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.

• A “WORKSHOP ON MORAL DILEMMAS” will be conducted by James Coley, past president of the North Carolina Society for Ethical Culture, on Saturday, March 24th, from 1 to 3 p.m. Coley will apply the ethical theory of British philosopher W.D. Ross for group exercises on real-world moral conflicts. For information and to enroll, contact Ken Novak at kennovak@gmail.com.

• Our CREATIVE WRITERS GROUP, led by Milt Zerkin, meets on the fourth Sunday of the month, March 25th, at 12:30 p.m. We’ll again be sharing our original short works. As always, newcomers are welcome.

• Our ETHICAL HUMANITIES non-fiction discussion group, led by Ken Novak, meets on Sunday, April 1st, at 12:20 p.m. We will discuss The God Delusion, the much-talked-about treatise about supernatural belief by Richard Dawkins, arguably the world’s preeminent atheist. Vision-impaired? Ask to borrow the audio CD from Ken.

• Our FIRST FRIDAY WINTER MOVIE SERIES, hosted by Dick Carney, is skipping the month of March. We’ll resume on Friday, April 6th, with a real treat—a film that has charming characters and great music. So hold the date.

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Recent Sunday Programs

• RAYMOND PIERREHUMBERT, professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago, continued our Living Ethics series on January 21st. His topic was “Global Warming and the Climate Bottleneck.” Paul Ozarowski chaired the meeting.

Pierrehumbert decried the “irreversible damage” to the atmosphere by the accumulation of heat-retaining carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. He noted the melt back of snow cover and warned of mass extinctions of animal species. He praised Al Gore’s recent film An Inconvenient Truth for calling attention to the growing danger and accused the U.S. and China of being the greatest contributors to global warming.

“Coal is the main problem,” Pierrehumbert charged. He called for a stop to the construction of new coal-fired power plants and for investing in new technologies to end our “carbon gluttony.” He discussed ways of curbing our growing energy needs. Noting the controversial issue of nuclear power, he called for a discussion of it as a non-polluting substitute for fossil-burning fuels.

• PHILIP HOCKBERGER, professor of physiology and neuroscience at Northwestern University, ended our Living Ethics series on January 28th. He spoke on “Science Vs. Religion: the Search for Truth.” David Wokosin chaired the meeting.

Hockberger told of trying to reconcile his scientific training with being raised Catholic. He discussed views of science and religion both as separate from and sharing with each other. In a slide show he depicted how science deals with the four areas of cosmology, quantum physics, evolution, and neuro-science. He especially looked at theories of consciousness, some based on science, some on religion.

Hockberger noted that both science and religion are “works in progress.” He said that advocates of science and religion both recognize their common interest and are working together to eliminate “bad science and bad religion.” He spoke against the evils of both “religious and scientific fundamentalism” and touched on the current political power of the religious right.

• MEADE PALIDOFSKY, founder and artistic director of the Music Theatre Workshop, spoke on February 4th. Her topic was “Music Theatre Workshop: Changing Young Lives Dramatically.” Marne Glaser chaired the meeting.

Palidofsky began with a video of an inspiring Workshop production by young women incarcerated at an Illinois detention center. She told about her founding of the Workshop, which she has led for many years. She described the writing and performing of plays and musicals by the women about their lives as “a means of transforming them.” The women “portray themselves as good people and explore relationships,” she said. They learn “respect for themselves and others,” the “need to communicate,” and “how hard work leads to success,” she added.

Palidofsky noted the importance of community and family to the women. She stressed “expression of feelings,” “intentional reflection,” and “getting them to laugh.” She ruefully noted that the Workshop receives no help from the Illinois Department of Corrections, but relies mostly on churches. “It has been hard but really worth it,” she cheerily concluded.

• MIKE QUIGLEY, Cook County Commissioner from Chicago’s North Side, spoke on February 11th. His topic was “The Education of a Political Independent.” John Ungashick chaired the meeting.

“There isn’t much difference between politics and everyday life,” Quigley began. “Cheating is common” and “politicians play along the edges,” he said, but this shouldn’t “dissuade us from doing the right thing.” He recalled that his early interest in environmentalism led him to work with the EPA and then into the campaign against lights in Wrigley Field. Going into politics, he organized block clubs, became an aldermanic aide, and was eventually elected to the Cook County Board. Above all, he noted, “I learned to get things done.”

Quigley said independent politicians are needed so that there can be debate. “A contentious system brings out the truth, “ he declared. But I don’t just vote “no,” he said, pointing to the need for carefully documented arguments, the avoidance of sanctimony, and a record of victories achieved through compromise and tradeoffs. Quigley praised the “fascinating” electoral victories of reform candidates to the County Board in 2002 and called recent consensus building events “a rebirth of freedom.”

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Our People

• Matthew and Mithra Zaucha have joined the Society. They live in Bolingbrook and have two children, Aval and Roya, in the Sunday School. Matthew is a high school physics teacher and Mithra is a public health specialist. What attracted them was “moral development for the kids and intellectual stimulation for us.” Welcome, Matt and Mithra!

• Gregg Scholten and Karen Reddy are also new members. They live in Oak Park. Gregg is a factory manager and Karen is a microbiologist. In the Society they have found ”the positives but not the negatives of traditional religion.” Welcome, Gregg and Karen. We’re glad you found us!

• Joan Chandler is another new member. She lives in Edgewater and is a retired advertising copywriter. “I like the interesting speakers and the friendly people,” she happily says. We’re glad you joined, Joan. Welcome!

• Julie Wosk, daughter of members Joe and Goldie Wosk, had a heartfelt article in the January 15th Long Island (NY) Newsday about two visits to the South. One was in the 1960s as a volunteer teacher for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Alabama, the other, 40 years later, as a fellow at an art center in Virginia. In each she recalls being in a Baptist church and hearing the words to a hymn: “‘If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song…then my living will not be in vain.’” Sounds right, Julie!

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Sunday School Scoop

We started last month with a Sunday School Family Breakfast, sharing home-baked goodies and connecting with each other. It was so nice, we’ll be having another soon! For Valentine’s Day we talked about love and caring for our friends and made Valentine cards that we sent to some special friends of the Society. For Chinese New Year we made paper dragons that we showed off in a short parade at a Sunday platform.

The Coming of Age group, accompanied by me and Melanie Neal, made a weekend visit to their counterparts in St. Louis. The two groups blended into one as we visited The City Museum and went back to the St. Louis Society building for games, music, pizza, and a movie. We were short on sleep but long on fun!

In March our kids will be talking about Justice and War, and the topic for another World Cultures Day will be Peru. We’re very excited about the intergenerational program on the 18th, when we’ll be welcoming the Big Run Wolf Ranch, whose mission is to preserve native wildlife through educating the public. You won’t want to miss this presentation and the interesting guests it will bring.

—Sharon Appelquist, Director

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Notices and Announcements

• Our Annual Pledge Drive is continuing. By mid-Feb-ruary, pledges had come from 106 members, reaching almost $51,000, or 92 percent of our $55,000 goal. If you haven’t yet made your pledge, please send it in this month. Please contact Treasurer John Ungashick at jungasick@aol.com if you have any questions. Thanks to all for your commitment and generosity!

• A “Troops Home Now” march, on Tuesday, March 20th —4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, is sponsored by United for Peace and Justice. It starts at 7:30 p.m. from Michigan and Walton. Our Ethical Action Committee, chaired by Brian Barnes, is organizing a contingent from the Society.

• Jewel Shop and Share coupons are here again—for Monday-Wednesday, March 26-28, and for Monday-Wednesday, April 2-4. The Society gets a 5-percent rebate on your purchases. Clip or copy the coupons in this newsletter, or get some for family and friends at any Society meeting.

• Our annual Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Geneva is scheduled for May 26–28. So hold these dates for a relaxing outdoor getaway with family and friends. Full details will be in the April newsletter. To help in planning either the adult or children’s activities, check with Tom Hoeppner.

• A Society Library Committee has been formed. Members are Fred Malkinson, Ken Novak, and Leif Zerkin. They would welcome any questions or comments, or any requests for additions to our library.

• Our Winter Friendship Dinners have been a great success. We thank the hosts: Carmen Agoyo-Silva and Steve Julstrom in January, Ken Novak in February, and Matt and Marilee Cole in March.

• Nominations for election to the Board of Trustees at our June 3rd membership meeting are being solicited by Board Nominating Committee members: John Ungashick, Sue Walton, Peter Less, Sharon Appelquist, and Renee Sullivan. The next Board meeting is on Wednesday, March 14th, 7:15 p.m., in the library. Any Society member is welcome to attend.

• Membership in the Society is open to anyone who shares
our ethical goals. For information about us or the Ethical move-
ment, see Membership Chair Tom Hoeppner or contact him at Thomas_J_Hoeppner@rush.edu. Our next Membership Orienta- tion is on Sunday, March 4th, at 12:00 p.m., in the library.

• Our Tribute Fund is a convenient, caring way to honor each other—with congratulations on a birthday, anniversary, or graduation, condolences on the loss of a loved one, wishes for recovery from an illness, or hailing a good deed. Get a Tribute form from a literature table.

• Newsletter subscriptions are $20 per year—if you’re not a member, a contributing friend, or new on our mailing list. Get the free pdf edition by e-mailing the office (include pdfnewsletter as the subject and your name and address). You can pick up a free printed newsletter at our building.

• Public transportation is available to our Sunday meetings. The #290 PACE bus leaves the Howard L station at 9:30 a.m. and goes to Touhy Ave. and Cicero Ave. (Skokie Blvd.). It’s then a short walk to our building. A return #290 bus to the Howard station leaves Touhy and Cicero at 1:20 p.m.

• To meet the April newsletter deadline, editor Alan Kimmel asks that any reports of Society activities be given to him no later than Sunday, March 18th. Thanks!

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About Us

The Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago is a democratic fellowship and spiritual home for those who seek a rational, compassionate philosophy of life without regard to belief or nonbelief in a supreme being. We value the importance of living an ethical, responsible, and joyful life. We promote intellectual, philosophical, and artistic freedom, avoiding dogma and rigid creed. We nurture a sense of wonder about life, nature, and the universe, and are inspired by models of human achievement. Shaped by the forces of humanism, democracy, science, and religious reform, we cherish human diversity and focus on what we have in common, not on what keeps us apart.

While respectful of the faiths and traditions we may have been born to, we serve as a new religion or as an alternative to religion.

We care for and support each other, sharing our joys and sorrows. Like traditional religious communities, we celebrate births, conduct wedding ceremonies, host memorial services, and provide for the caring, ethical education of our children.

We believe in deed beyond creed and in working for a better world. We recognize the worth and dignity of every person, and strive to act so as to bring out the best in others and thereby in ourselves.

Meetings of the Ethical Humanist Society are at our home in the Greiner Center, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL 60077. Sunday meetings start at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments and a social hour follow the program. Child care is available. Everyone is welcome. If you need transportation, please call the Society office by 1 p.m. Friday. We will try to get a ride for you. The Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago was founded in 1882. The Society is a member of the American Ethical Union.

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The Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago, founded in 1882, is a member of the American Ethical Union.

Officers and Trustees: Scott Walton, President; Matt Cole &
Dick Carney, Vice Presidents; Paul Ozarowski, Secretary; John Ungashick, Treasurer; Yolanda Adler, Joe Burck, Sheila Caplan Curren, Ed Drower, Peter Less, Oliver Pergams, Claude Williams

Sunday School Director: Sharon Appelquist
Office Administrator: Alison Martin
Newsletter Editor: Alan Kimmel
Ethical Officiants: Marne Glaser, Jo-Ann Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, Ken Novak
AEU Representative: Tom Hoeppner
Webmaster: Simeon Carson