Newsletter of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago August 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. • FRED MALKINSON, another Society member and history buff, speaks Sunday, August 1st, on “The History of the Statue of Liberty.” Fred will take us through the fascinating 21-year saga of planning, fundraising, and publicity for what is arguably the most famous statue in the world. • KEN NOVAK leads an expanded Ethical Humanities discussion on “Friendship—According to Aristotle and Us” on Sunday, August 8th. We will use the Greek philosopher’s short essay on friendship in his “Nicomachean Ethics” (http://bit.ly/bzjcbt). • OLIVER PERGAMS, a member of the Society, speaks Sunday, August 15th, on “The Rapid Evolution of Small Mammals—A New Discovery.” A research professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois, Oliver will discuss the significance of large recent changes in the size and shape of small mammals, apparently caused by human population growth and climate change. • ABE DOLGOFF, a Society member, reviews The Rise of David Levinsky, on Sunday, August 22nd. This fictional autobiography of the Jewish immigrant experience in Am-erica was published in 1917 by Abraham Cahan, long-time editor of the Jewish Daily Forward. Abe will recount the life of a lonely and unhappy immigrant from Russia who started from nothing to become a multi-millionaire. Abe will compare early Russian immigrants with those arriving during the Cold War and post-Cold War era. • Our CREATIVE WRITERS group, led by John Taylor, ends the summer season with its annual showcase program on Sunday, August 29th. We’ll again be entertained by a stirring medley of original stories, essays, memoirs, and poems by several of our talented members and friends. A rehearsed presentation, there will be no open mike. • Our Second Saturday Coffeehouse, hosted by Vicki Elberfeld, will skip July but resumes on August 14th, at 8 p.m. We’ll welcome back the popular Whiskey Bucket Blues Review, featuring musicians Charlie Rossiter, Henry Berry, and Jack Rossiter-Manley. • The Film Discussion Group has chosen two currently playing films for its August 16th meeting. The Kids Are All Right centers on a lesbian couple whose marriage is much like any other but whose two children were fathered by the same sperm donor. It was directed by Lisa Cholodenko and stars Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, and Mark Ruffalo. Life During Wartime, a sequel to an earlier film, Happiness, by director Todd Solandz, is a blackly comic tale about the marital and emotional dilemmas faced by three sisters, played by Shirley Henderson, Ally Sheedy, and Renee Taylor, with Allison Janney, Michael Lerner, and Ciaran Hinds. We begin at 7:15 p.m. back to the top Recent Sunday Programs • Our YES (Youth of Ethical Societies) group presented a program, “Gay Teens in High School,” on June 13th. Introducing a panel of both gay and straight teenagers to “share their personal stories” was Erschel DeLeon, adult director of the Pride Youth program. The youngsters told of when they “first knew they were different,” the conflicts with and support from their parents, and finding support groups like the Gay Student Alliance, which reassured them “It wasn’t just me.” They noted the mixed reactions of their friends and complained of some people being “mean,” “nasty,” or “insensitive.” A group of our own YES members had questions and comments and pointed out “the need to accept everyone.” DeLeon emphasized “rebuilding the confidence” of gay youngsters and noted that boys tend ”to need more support” than girls. “Love is all that matters,” she declared. • Chris Turley, local architect and founder of a goals accountability group, spoke June 20th on “Unintended Altruism—Projects that Do More Than Succeed.” The moderator was Cynthia Diaz. Turley enthusiastically praised “community projects,” which he called “a tool to involve ordinary people” in efforts “to bring about change in their own lives.” The various projects he described included improving personal relationships at work, mentoring young fathers, making dresses for Haitian earthquake orphans, developing a fitness program for fire-fighters, and organizing sports for disabled children. Turley emphasized the need for careful planning and specific, reachable goals. He said organizers of successful projects must “learn to listen,” adding “If a project is inspirational, people will join it.” He said that volunteer project organizers like himself were also “finding benefits for themselves” as they learned “to live life with intentionality.” Annual Membership Meeting President Mat Cole welcomed some 65 members of the Society to our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 6th. Matt hailed us for being “smart, hard-working, and doing good,” while “facing serious challenges.” Treasurer John Unga-shick presented and we approved a new annual budget, which continues our long-term deficit problem. The budget includes increased investment income and increases in administrative, building, and publicity expenses. We heard many upbeat committee reports and adopted major amendments to our Bylaws, including specified responsibilities of trustees and a presidential term limit. Elected to the Board of Trustees by secret ballot were Lisa Crowe for a second 3-year term, Laura Drower, Steve Julstrom, and Ed McManus for first 3-year terms, and Evan Kane for a vacated 2-year term. Continuing Board members are Yolanda Adler, Sheila Curren, Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Oliver Pergams, and Sue Walton. An impressive total of 77 ballots were cast, 12 by proxy. Following the meeting, Matt named Lisa, David, and Evan as the Officers Nominating Committee. Our People • Dorothy Lockhart, a member of the Society since 1948, died on June 3rd from complications of Parkinson’s disease. She was 82 years old. Our condolences to her son David Lockhart and daughter Lisa Hada. Dorothy was born near Vienna, in far southern Illinois, the daughter of Hillis and Irene Phelps. She was raised in suburban Harvey and lived most of her life in Chicago, where she became a successful commercial artist. As a resident of Rogers Park, she was an active leader in the PTA and the Mental Health Association. Dorothy was especially active in the Society, serving as our president, a Board member, office administrator, and historian. Dorothy retired in 2005 and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be near her daughter. She was known for her strong devotion to the Society and as a champion of its historic role in improving the lives of the people of Chicago. A memorial service is planned for early this summer. From the President First, let me thank the Board for the opportunity to serve as Society president. With the help and support of the new, returning, and retiring Board members, I’m looking forward to a cooperative and productive year. Second, my special thanks to outgoing president Matt Cole for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Society. Moving into summer, we’ve enjoyed a Memorial Day weekend of sun and fun at Tower Hill, a startling good coffeehouse featuring our own Rachel Baiman, and a timely platform from our YES group. The summer season continues with a full range of home-grown platforms, several planned building upgrades, display booths at street fairs and community events to let others know who we are, and the usual ongoing committee and group activities. We can take pride in the vibrant and meaningful community we’ve created. With all of us contributing and working together, we’ll continue to thrive and grow. —Steve Julstrom , President Sunday School Scoop The Golden Rule Sunday School is now on summer break but we’re already making plans for the fall. We’re cleaning and preparing our rooms and are again faced with the happy predicament of making sure we have plenty of space for all our new and returning children. The insert in the newsletter has a “Checklist for a Successful Sunday School,” written by Aimee Neumann, with photos by Sunday School parents Evan Kane and Jennifer Hoeveler. We are fortunate to have one of the more successful Sunday Schools of any Ethical Society in the country. There are many reasons for this, but it is mainly due to the support of our families, our Board of Trustees, and the entire membership. We have a really great thing going here and I’m happy to be a small part of it. To keep our families connected over the summer, we’re planning a potluck picnic on July 11th at Lovelace Park in Evanston. Thanks to our wonderful YES group, childcare will again be provided for the summer Sunday programs. They’ll also be taking over the lunch packing for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter every third Sunday. If you can donate lunch supplies, please see Melanie Neal. —Sharon Appelquist, Director sundayschool@ethicalhuman.org back to the top Activities and Announcements • Society officers were named by our new Board of Trustees on Wednesday, June 9th. Steve Julstrom is our new president, replacing Matt Cole; Ed McManus is our new vice president, replacing Yolanda Adler; Sheila Curren is our new treasurer, replacing John Ungashick; and Sue Walton remains our secretary. Congratulations to them all! • Our Society’s last community table this summer is scheduled for the Glenview Farmers Market on Saturday, August 21st. Like at our successful setups in Oak Park, Skokie, and Evanston in June, we’ll be talking to interested passersby about the Society, handing out our new brochures, and providing a mailing sign-up sheet. Again, too, volunteers are needed to man (and woman) the table. • Our Annual Building Cleanup is set for Saturday, September 4th, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be jobs for both young and old. Refreshments will be served. For information on how you can help, call the office. • Our Tribute Fund is a way we can 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. • 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, simply send an email to programinfo@ethicalhuman.org or call the office. • 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. • Become a member of the Society—if you enjoy our Sunday morning programs, made new friends at our activities and discussions, share our ethical humanist outlook, and are looking for a caring community. Membership Chair Tom Hoeppner invites you to call him at 847-256-3622 with any questions. Or come to a Membership Orientation on Sunday, July 18th or August 8th, at 12:15 p.m. • Our Society runs on member skills and talent. The Volunteer Board across from the library shows where you may be needed—at our table at the Glenview farmers market in August and on committees such as Sunday Program, Environmental Footprint, Sunday School, Publicity, Ethical Action, Building, Fund Raising, and newsletter mailing. Drivers are also needed to assist members in coming to programs. Please contact Sheila Curren at 773-743-7976 or drcurren@comcast.net. • 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. • Our Ethnic Dinners Out are taking the summer off but will resume in September. Meanwhile, Richard Curren encourages us to look for new gastric adventures on our own. • Our Women’s Group, led by Ellen Rae, is also taking the summer off and will resume in September. back to the top Tribute Fund • In memory of Brian Barnes, a good friend, a wonderful musician, and a great dad. —from Matt & Marilee Cole • To Matt Cole and John Ungashick. Thanks for your extraordinary jobs as president and treasurer. You set a high standard. Your service is greatly appreciated. —from Anonymous 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: Steve Julstrom, President; Ed McManus, Vice President; Sue Walton Secretary; Sheila Caplan Curren, Treasurer; Lisa Crowe, Laura Drower, Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Evan Kane, Ed McManus, Oliver Pergams. 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