Newsletter of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago May 2010 | Sunday Morning Programs | Coming Activities and Events | Recent Sunday Programs | Notices and Announcements | Our People | Sunday School Scoop | Tribute Fund | About Us | Staff | Last Month's Newsletter | Download Newsletter PDF | Welcome to Our Sunday Morning Programs Every Sunday morning from 10:30 a.m. to noon. These programs are free and open to the public. • ELI FINKEL, professor of social psychology at Northwestern University, speaks Sunday, May 2nd, on “The Science of Romantic Attraction.” Featured in stories in the local and national media, Finkel will discuss his investigation of romantic relationships from a psychosocial perspective. He will present exciting, sometimes counterintuitive, findings from his speed-dating studies. • MICK DUMKE, associate editor and political writer for The Reader, speaks Sunday, May 9th, on “Issues and Personalities in Local Politics.” Dumke will discuss and give us an inside look at some of the key election races in Illinois this November, including governor, U.S. senator, Cook County president, and county assessor. He will also touch on the future of the region’s “most powerful pol,” Mayor Richard M. Daley. • Our annual MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION is the program for Sunday, May 16th. We’ll salute our hard-working staff and many volunteers, honor our Sunday School children and their dedicated teachers, and welcome our newest members. To remind us of anyone who deserves special recognition, you can contact Tom Hoeppner. • “THE FUTURE OF ETHICAL SOCIETIES—AS SEEN BY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE” is the program for Sunday, May 23rd. While in Chicago for their annual conference, the young adults who make up F.E.S. will present a lively platform on the status of Ethical Culture and their vision for a more sustainable and multi-generational movement. They will ask for our critical feedback. • Our MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND at Tower Hill Camp in Michigan features a 10:30 a.m. platform on Sunday, May 30th. If you won’t be there for the whole weekend, come in the morning and stay for lunch. It’s an hour-and-a-half drive from downtown Chicago. There is no Sunday morning program at the Greiner Center in Skokie. Coming Society Events • Sunday Morning Colloquy topics this month are Change on May 2nd, Hardship on May 9th, Pride on May 16th, Generosity on May 23rd, and Heroes on May 30th (at Tower Hill). Led by Ken Novak, our small group meets in the library, 9:30–10:00 a.m., for a casual examination of how we feel about our lives. Newcomers are cordially invited. • Our “Ethics in the 21st Century” Conference, hosted by Steve Freedman, is on Saturday, May 1st, 12:30 to 5 p.m. Featured speakers are Jim Kenney, Executive Director of Common Ground; Louis Lombardi, professor of philosophy and director of Lake Forest College Ethics Center; Janice Nadler, professor of law at Northwestern University; and Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice. They will address the need for a return to ethical individual and organizational conduct. Last-minute reservations for $15 will be taken at the office. It’s $20 at the door and $10 for students. • Our Fiction Circle is on Sunday, May 2nd, at 12:15 p.m. Led by Ken Novak, we’ll discuss The Housekeeper and the Professor, by Yoko Ogawa. This fascinating novel is about the relationship between a mathematician who has lost all but his short-term memory because of a head injury and his housekeeper and her son. It examines the relationship of numbers to life and what it means to live in the present. • Our Second Saturday Coffee House, hosted by Vicki Elberfeld, is on May 8th, at 8 p.m. Featured in a dual concert, “Songs for the Cycle of Life,” are Cooper and Nelson (with Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson) and February Sky (with Phil Cooper and Susan Urban). The program showcases traditional and contemporary folk music and songs, acompanied by guitar, banjo, and dulcimer. The $7 donation includes pastries and hot and cold beverages. • Our Ethnic Dinner Out is on Saturday, May 15th, at the Gruppo Di Amici, 1508 W. Jarvis, in Chicago’s Rogers Park. Enjoy a leisurely Italian meal. Watch pizza being made in the brick oven in the dining room. Dine on individual pizzas and fine entrees such as Amici chicken, fish, tortelli, and other favorites. Park on the street. We order at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Richard Curren at a Sunday platform, at 773-743-7976, or at richard_curren@yahoo.com. • Our Film Discussion Group, led by John Ungashick, meets on Monday, May 17th, at 7:15 p.m. We’ve again chosen two current films. Exit Through the Gift Shop is a provocative, satirical documentary about secretive street artist Banksy and art-world sensation Thierry Guetta. City Island is about a prison guard who complicates his family life when he brings a released prisoner home. It was directed by Raymond de Felitta, with Andy Garcia, Alan Arkin, and Julianna Marguiles. • Our Creative Writers group, led by John Taylor, meets on Sunday, May 23rd, at 12:15 p.m. Welcome to newcomers—come and share your short, original works with us. back to the top Recent Sunday Programs • David Weisbach, professor of law at the University of Chicago, spoke March 21st on “The Debate over Climate Change Policy.” The moderator was Anil Kashyap. Weisbach linked the burning of fossil fuels to increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and “an enormous rise” of six degrees in average temperature since the last Ice Age. He warned of an impending rise in sea level. Projecting a computer-modeled. on-screen “climate simulator” chart, he discussed in detail the impact on CO2 emissions of such variables as reduced deforestation. Weisbach stressed the need for an eventual return to 1875 levels of fossil fuel consumption. Asking how we can get there, while still assuring the access of all to “Western living standards,” he called for the development of renewable sources of energy. He pointed to solar, and possibly nuclear, as the most feasible. The main obstacles are cost and “the political will,” he said. “It’s not an easy challenge.” • Jeffrey Winters, professor of political science at Northwestern University, spoke March 28th on “Political Islam in Southeast Asia.” The moderator was John Ungashick. Winters recounted the peaceful history of Islam in Southeast Asia and Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation. He disputed the common depiction of Islam as a terrorist threat, ignoring past U.S. support of “the most extreme Jihadists” as a Cold War counter to the Soviet Union in the 1980s. “Most dangerous now,” Winters said, “is what’s going on in the politics of Southeast Asia.” Winters said “legal Islam” is making headway because it attributes corruption, inequalities, and underdevelopment in the secular Indonesian state to “industrial immorality.” In this “enormous battle over people’s values,” he warned of a “step-by-step penetration of fundamentalist Shari’a law.” He insisted we must “not undercut the democratic forces” there and “make clear we’re fighting terrorism, not Islam.” • Leslie Goddard, actor, historian, and museum educator, presented “Abigail Adams: Remember the Ladies!” on April 4th. She was introduced by Evan Kane. In period dress, Goddard engagingly impersonated the nation’s second first lady. She noted how she first met her husband, President John Adams. “We both loved politics and adored good books.“ She talked about the Revolution and the political struggles afterward. She told of how, with small children and John away much of the time, “I still had to run the household.” She wrote, “I was very lonely.” Abigail told of the “excitement” at the victory over Britain. She mocked the phrase “All men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence, urging John “to remember the ladies” as he helped write the nation’s first laws. She avidly supported women’s education and independence, but believed in “separate orbits” for men and women. She also defended John’s fear of “mob rule” and praised the royal-like “accoutrements of authority.” From the President Recently my wife and I returned from a long-planned trip to New Zealand. Arriving home on a Thursday we suffered from a combination of vacation withdrawal, reality confrontation, and jet lag. On Saturday our grandbabies and their mom came over. Suddenly coming home wasn’t so bad. On Sunday we returned to the Society and suffered the pleasure of warm greetings, smiling faces, and more than a few hugs. We were home and it was good. The Ethical Society is a good place. For many of us it is our family and home. This month is our Memorial Day Weekend retreat. I hope you all can attend and share the warmth. Then comes our Annual Meeting. Perhaps this won’t be as much fun as Tower Hill, but successful families take work. Please attend and make wise choices in voting for the people we entrust with the well-being of our family. Lastly, please support the Bylaws committee and their Board-endorsed revisions to our Bylaws. They have worked hard at making changes to ensure the health of our family. Hugs to you all! —Matt Cole , President Sunday School Scoop Our Spring Festival last month was lovely. The children were all wonderful and worked together to participate in this fun program. Thanks so much to Tom Hoeppner for his enthusiastic guidance and inspiring words. Our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast to honor the hard work of so many in our community was planned for April 25th. It’s hard to imagine that the last month of our 2009/10 season is upon us—and it will be a busy one! We’ll start with our annual wood-chip-spreading service project at Emily Oaks, make gifts to honor our mothers, and have our end-of-the-year picnic. At the Membership Recognition program we’ll honor all our teachers and children who have come together to make this a special year. We’re very much looking forward to the Memorial Day Weekend retreat in Michigan and we hope to see you all there! We’ve been honored this year for the opportunity to work with all our wonderful children. I wish you all a safe, warm, and happy summer! —Sharon Appelquist, Director sundayschool@ethicalhuman.org back to the top Activities and Announcements • Our Annual Pledge Drive reached $54,887 in mid-April—96 per cent of the $57,000 goal. The pledges are from 111 members, of whom 53 are sustaining. Their commitment and generosity is greatly appreciated. But 14 members haven’t yet pledged. They’re reminded that participation in our June 6th Annual Meeting requires at least a minimum pledge or a hardship waiver. Please direct any questions to treasurer John Ungashick at 847-492-9459. • Our annual Memorial Day Weekend getaway at Tower Hill camp near Warren Dunes in southwestern Michigan is May 29–31. The price for two nights and six meals (Saturday lunch to Monday breakfast) is $135 for members, $170 for nonmembers; children ages 5–16 half price, younger ones free. Enjoy delicious, ample food, comfortable rooms, and a relaxing time. For information and reservations call Tom Hoeppner at 847-256-3622 or the office. Space is limited, so early reservations are advised. To help with adult activities, call Ken Novak at 847-414-4314; for children’s activities, call Sharon Appelquist at the office. • Our Board Nominating Committee reports that seven candidates have announced for election to five open spots on the Board of Trustees. Running for reelection are Lisa Crowe, Ed McManus, and Renee Sullivan. Also running are Laura Drower, Steve Julstrom, Evan Kane, and Ellen Marshall Rae. Additional nominations may be made by May 5th to committee co-chairs Dave Hardesty or Sue Walton or at the June 6th Annual Meeting. • A Health Fair is planned for Sunday, May 2nd, 12:15 p.m., in the auditorium. Coordinated by member and pharmacist Tiffany Ziegler, we’ll offer blood pressure screenings, hypertension/cholesterol/dia- betes education, and information on shingles vaccinations and Medicare Part D. We’ll review your medicines for possible overlap and collect expired meds for disposal. Contact Tiffany at 512-577-9756 or tiffnoecker@live.com with any questions. • The annual Skokie Festival of Culture is on Saturday and Sunday, May 22–23, at 4701 W. Oakton St. We’ll have an information table as a way of promoting the Society’s programs and activities. Volunteers are needed for all shifts, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sign up with Sue Walton or on the bulletin board. We’re also setting up tables this summer at similar events in Oak Park, Evanston, and Glenview. • Our Ethical Action group has endorsed Lawrence D. Egbert, medical director of the Final Exit Network, a supporter of terminally ill people in end-of-life decisions, as this year’s recipient of the AEU’s Elliott-Black Award. The award is given to a person who, at great personal risk, has courageously given service to humanity. We’re again hosting a community soup kitchen at the Evanston Baptist Church, on Monday, May 17th, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To volunteer for this community service, call Marilee Cole at 847-853-8050. • Our Society runs on member skills and talent. The Volunteer Board across from the library shows where you may be needed—on committees such as Environmental Footprint, Sunday School, A/V, and newsletter mailing, and at our tables at street fairs. We also need drivers to assist members in coming to programs. Please contact Sheila Curren at drcurren@comcast.net or 773-743-7976. • Our Women’s Group, led by Ellen Rae, meets next on Thursday, May 6th, at 7 p.m. in the library. In honor of Mothers Day, we’ll explore themes of motherhood. • It’s time to join the Society—if you’ve enjoyed our Sunday morning programs or made new friends at our activities and discussions—and if you share our ethical humanist outlook and are looking for a caring community. Membership Chair Tom Hoeppner invites you to contact him with any questions. Or come to the next Membership Orientation, on Sunday, May 9th, at 12:15 p.m. • The YES (Youth of Ethical Societies) group thanks all of our bagel-buying friends this season. With the money raised at all our fundraisers, we were able to send teens to the annual YES conference. We also donated supplies to the Campus Kitchens Project and mailed videotapes to the Alternative Community Training Program. This month, for the Share Your Soles Foundation, we’re asking for donations of your gently-used shoes as well as shoe laces and shoe polish. Please drop them in the box in the community room. • Our Tribute Fund is a way we honor each other—such as condolences on the loss of a loved one and congratulations on a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or personal achievement. Each tribute is printed in the newsletter. Forms are on the literature tables. • Get our free electronic newsletter. It comes sooner and saves postage. Email us a request, noting pdfnewsletter as the subject and your name and address. A subscription to the printed newsletter is $20 per year if you’re not a member, a contributing friend, or new on the mailing list. • Our Weekly Program Reminder is emailed to anyone who wants to be regularly informed of the coming week’s meetings and activities. To be on the list, send an email to programinfo@ethicalhuman.org or call the office at 847-677-3334. • Try Public transportation 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. back to the top Our People • Katherine Ross and Tim Morrison are new members. They live in Chicago and are scenic designers. They were attracted to the Society by “the Sunday School and the varied, interesting platforms.” Welcome, Katherine and Tim! • Ken Novak is performing in a Next Theatre production of Shape of Faith on Sunday, May 2nd, 5 p.m., at the Society. Bringing together participants from several religious, secular, and civic groups, the performers will examine the role of faith in public life and how our beliefs both unite and divide us. Admission is free. See you there, Ken! About Us The Ethical Humanist Society of 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. back to the top The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, founded in 1882, is a member of the American Ethical Union. Officers and Trustees: Matt Cole, President; Yolanda Adler, Vice President; Sue Walton Secretary; John Ungashick, Treasurer; Lisa Crowe, Sheila Caplan Curren, Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Ed McManus, Paul Ozarowski, Oliver Pergams, Renee Sullivan. Sunday School Director: Sharon Appelquist Newsletter Editor: Alan Kimmel Ethical Officiants: Marne Glaser, JoAnn Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, Ken Novak AEU Representative: Tom Hoeppner Copyright © Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago • Link Disclaimer