Newsletter
of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago
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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.
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JOSEPH PERSKY, professor of economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, speaks Sunday, December 6th, on “A Permanent Jobs Program to Meet Human Needs.” In light of the current economic crisis, Persky will discuss “long-standing structural problems” in the U.S. economy. He will emphasize investment in the public sector and “meaningful progressive taxation” to finance it.
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Our ANNUAL WINTER FESTIVAL is on Sunday, December 13th. Guided by Tom Hoeppner and Sunday School director Sharon Appelquist, we’ll again have our traditional celebration of the winter solstice, with a candle-lighting ceremony and decoration of a “mitten tree.” There will be readings, music, group singing, and refreshments. Your donations of new winter clothing and non-perishable food items will adorn the tree and be passed on to those in need.
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WILLIAM HIRSTEIN, professor of philosophy at Elmhurst College, speaks Sunday, December 20th, on “Confabulation: Why People Don’t Say ‘I Don’t Know.’” Hirstein will discuss how neurological patients sometimes give false answers to questions, even without intending to deceive. He will try to explain why normal people sometimes give false answers rather than admitting ignorance.
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NOTE: There is no regular Sunday morning program on December 27th. Programs will resume in the new year with our annual Living Ethics series, beginning January 3rd.
Coming
Society Events
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Sunday Morning Colloquy topics this month are Strangers on December 6th, Humor on December 13th, and Wonder on December 20th. Led by Ken Novak, our small, nonjudgmental group meets in the library at 9:30 a.m. to share and examine how we feel about our lives.
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Our bimonthly Ethical Humanities nonfiction group meets on Sunday, December 6th, at 12:15 p.m. We will discuss Robert Wright’s The Evolution of God. Recently featured on Bill Moyers’ Journal, Wright examines the notions of gods from earliest history to modern times, how those ideas have grown with civilization, and their meaning for today.
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Our Film Discussion Group, led by John Ungashick, meets on December 14th, the second Monday of the month, at 7:15 p.m. We’ve again chosen two current films. Precious is the almost unendurable but life-affirming story of an abused, obese teenage girl. It stars Gabourey Sidibe and was directed by Lee Daniels. The Messenger is about an Iraqi war veteran with the wrenching task of notifying the families of those killed in action. It was directed by Oren Moverman and stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson.
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Our Second Saturday Coffee House, hosted by Vicki Elberfeld, is on December 19th—the third Saturday of the month. The Bittersweet Christmas Band is featured, with singer/songwriter musicians Phil Cooper, Kate Early, Margaret Nelson, and Susan Urban performing songs from many traditions, including Solstice and Hanukkah. Because of the longer performance, there will be no open mike. We start at 8 p.m. The $7 minimum donation includes refreshments.
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Our Creative Writers group, led by John Taylor, meets on the third Sunday this month, December 20th, at 12:15 p.m. Newcomers are invited to come and share their short, original works with us.
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Our bimonthly Fiction Circle, led by Ken Novak, meets on Sunday, January 3rd, at 12:15 p.m. We’ll discuss Anne Tyler’s 2001 novel Back When We Were Grownups. “Once upon a time,” the novel begins, “there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.” The book is in paperback and at libraries.
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Recent Sunday Programs
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Ellen Estrada, principal of Walter Payton College Prep. high school in Chicago, spoke on October 25th. Her topic was “Creating Excellence in Urban Public High Schools.” The moderator was Katie Merrell.
Estrada declared, “excellence in education is the issue of the 21st Century.” Noting that “globalization is changing our economy” she said “we are being outpaced by schools in India and China” and called for teaching “respect for a diverse world.” She stressed the teaching of critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Estrada called for better leadership in our schools and more support for the principals. Citing the success of her own efforts at Payton, she said we need to give incentives for teachers “to be creative and to take risks.” Let’s ask, she said, “Who made the best mistakes?”
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Charlie Shields and Trey Waters, former Peace Corps volunteers, spoke November 1st on “The Peace Corps in the 21st Century.” The moderator was Tom Hoeppner.
Shields said the stated purpose of the Peace Corps is to help people in other countries and to improve understanding between them and Americans. He noted that today there are 7,000 volunteers in 76 countries, working mostly in education, health, and business and environmental development.
Shields described his two years in Azerbaidzhan, where he helped form English language clubs, a sports league, and a summer youth camp. Waters described his work in Ghana, where he helped people manage tourist attractions, develop a weaving co-op, organize a radio show, and help in HIV/AIDS prevention. “We met some amazing people,” Shields said. “We learned that people have different ways of living,” Waters added. They noted their work was often difficult and not always fun, but was an invaluable experience.
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William McNary, president of USAction and co-Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, spoke November 8th on “Winning Quality, Affordable Health Care for All.” The moderator was Alan Kimmel.
McNary’s spirited talk came the morning after the U.S. House of Representatives had passed a health care bill. He proudly described how his and other groups had joined to build support for the legislation. He applauded the inclusion of a public option and said “We must no longer be held hostage by the insurance companies.” He quoted Sen. Ted Kennedy’s condemnation of the current system for “quality that is unbelievably poor and cost that is unbelievably high.”
McNary pointed out that the taxpayers currently provide excellent health insurance for members of Congress. “If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us,” he thundered. He urged the audience to thank our Representatives who voted yes and to call Senators Durbin and Burris to support a strong health insurance bill in the Senate.
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Julie Wosk, author and professor of art and English at the Maritime College of the State University of New York, spoke November 15th on “Women and the Machine.” The moderator was Ellen McManus.
The movement of large numbers of women into the industrial workforce in the last century has “transformed their lives,” Wosk declared. She recounted how women were ridiculed in the media with jokes about women drivers and routinely denied access to many professions.
Wosk said the biggest advances for women came during World War II, when they replaced the men who had left for the armed forces. Although many left the work force when the men returned, she pointed out that women have now come to work on all jobs. She noted, however, that women themselves continued to be ”treated as machines,” both as sex objects and as “the perfect woman” in the home. Wosk illustrated her remarks with slides of humorous caricatures of women in historical cartoons, posters, and photos.
From the President
This is a difficult message to compose. Usually I thank members for tasks well done, wish them happy holidays, or request support for those struggling with loss. The last few weeks have been painful for our Society. Nasty, untrue things have appeared on blogs and in letters. Some of us feel less secure. We will learn from our experience, we will heal, and the Society will thrive. It is too good not to.
For me most importantly it is not that we have blind allegiance to each other. My dad said, “If we both always agree, then one of us ain’t necessary.” But it is imperative that we protect our democratic underpinnings.
Our committees do their best. They debate, cast votes, and reach decisions. Not all will agree with those decisions, whether a decision involves the color of a couch or the choice of a speaker. If one disagrees there are ways to protest and appeal. Our bylaws and committees are open to all. Loyalty may not be due to committees or individuals, but it is due to our democratic process.
Be well, thanks, and enjoy the holidays.
—Matt Cole , President
Sunday School Scoop
A special thanks to Marilee Cole and Nina Weiss for working with our children to construct some amazing wood sculptures. Look for the display in the garden soon. Thanks also to Jan Kuhn, Hadassah Dolgoff, and Gail Hardesty for sharing a special day of music and stories, while JoAnn Hoeppner, Aimee Neumann, and I were in New York for the AEU Religious Education conference last month. On November 1st we all enjoyed a day exploring at Emily Oaks.
For our Winter Festival this month we’re encouraging our kids to share their talents, and hoping everyone will bring in some items to decorate our mitten tree. We’re partnering with the YES group in a holiday toy drive. We hope you’ll help us in this effort to brighten the holidays for kids who need some extra cheer. The Sunday School will be closed on the 20th and 27th, but back in session on January 3rd.
—Sharon
Appelquist, Director
sundayschool@ethicalhuman.org
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Activities and Announcements
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Our Annual Pledge Drive is off to a great start. By mid-November, we had pledges of $18,742 from 20 members, 13 of them sustaining. This is 33 percent of our $57,000 goal. Your generous responses will go a long way in meeting our financial commitments for the coming year. Questions can be directed to John Ungashick.
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Our Ethical Action group is again sponsoring its Rice Children’s Center Holiday Store. Our donations of new or like-new items are for the children at Rice to wrap and give as holiday gifts. Donations can be left in the auditorium balcony until December 13th.
Members and friends of the Society marched in an International Day of Climate Action parade last month protesting the CO2 emissions at a coal-burning electric power plant in Pilsen. They carried the Society’s Ethical Action banner.
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Our Women’s Group meets on Thursday, December 3rd, 7–9 p.m. The topic for discussion and personal reflection is women’s poetry. Join us for inspiration and friendship.
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Our YES (Youth of Ethical Societies) group is selling fresh baked goods on Sunday, December 6th, during coffee hour. The used-media drive for the Alternative Community Training Program is continuing, with collection boxes in the atrium. A Holiday Toy Drive is planned with the Sunday School. The deadline for donations of new, unwrapped toys, to be distributed by the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation to needy children, is Sunday, December 13th.
Youngsters from our Society attended the national YES conference at the Washington (DC) Ethical Society last month. It was a time to have fun and share experiences with other Ethical teenagers. Next year they’ll meet in Chicago.
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Our End-of-the-Year Clean-up is on Sunday, December 27th, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for helpers. Children are welcome. Last year over 25 members and friends helped out. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Scott and Sue Walton before 7 p.m. Saturday. Thanks.
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At our Sustainable Energy Forum, hosted by the Environmental Footprint Committee on Sunday, November 1st, David Wokosin and Steve Freedman described various transportation, heating, and electricity options. A highlight were demos of two electric and vegetable-oil-powered cars.
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Hosting our Sunday coffee hours is one of the shared responsibilities of members. Hospitality Committee chairs Sue Walton and Judy Carney point to their carefully-worked-out assignments and are very pleased and grateful for the positive responses they’ve received.
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The Society’s website is being redesigned. Volunteers are needed to write, design, and edit it. For information, contact Ken Novak at kennovak@gmail.com.
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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.
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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.
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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@ethical human.org or call the office.
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Getting married? Our Ethical Officiants—Marne Glaser, JoAnn Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, and Ken Novak—serve just like ministers and rabbis of traditional religious congregations in officiating at important life events. Authorized by the American Ethical Union, they perform marriages, baby namings, and memorial services. For a caring, secular ceremony, inquire at our office.
• Become a member of the Society—if you have enjoyed our varied Sunday morning programs or have exchanged ideas and 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 call him at 847-677-3334 with any questions. Or come to the next Membership Orientation on Sunday, December 20th, at 12:15 p.m.
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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.
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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.
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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; Paul Ozarowski,
Secretary; John Ungashick, Treasurer; Lisa Crowe, Sheila Caplan Curren, Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Oliver Pergams, Renee Sullivan, Sue Walton, Carolyn Welch
Sunday
School Director: Sharon
Appelquist
Newsletter Editor: Alan Kimmel
Ethical Officiants: Marne Glaser,
Jo-Ann Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, Ken Novak
AEU Representative: Tom Hoeppner
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