Newsletter of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago December 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. • DIANE SCHANZENBACH, an economist and associate professor at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, speaks Sunday, December 5th, on “Policy Debates on Success in School for Our Children.” Schanzenbach will discuss which educational policies do and do not improve students’ classroom success. She will review research findings on current hot button issues, such as vouchers, nutrition, school competition, and the importance of early education. • SHEILA WEINBERG, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting, speaks Sunday, December 12th, on “The True Size of the Fiscal Mess in Illinois.” Weinberg will review the pervasive problems in the way state and local budget information is reported. She will expose the problems with government accounting conventions and provide a more accurate description of government finances. • Our ANNUAL WINTER FESTIVAL is on Sunday, December 19th. Tom Hoeppner and Sharon Appelquist will lead us in our traditional celebration of the winter solstice, with a candle-lighting ceremony and decoration of a “mitten tree.” There will be group singing, a short play and musical performances by the children, 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. • NOTE: There are no regular Sunday morning programs on December 26th or January 2nd. Programs will resume with our annual Living Ethics series, beginning January 9th. Coming Society Events • Our Sunday Morning Colloquy topics this month are Pleasure on December 5th, Uniqueness on December 12th, and Temptation on December 19th. Led by Ken Novak, our small, nonjudgmental group examines how we feel about our lives. We meet in the library at 9:30 a.m. • Our Second Saturday Coffeehouse, hosted by Vicki Elberfeld, is on the first Saturday this month, December 4th. Comprising the Bittersweet Christmas Band, the performers are Phil Cooper, Kate Early, Margaret Nelson, and Susan Urban. We’ll enjoy a program of original and unusual contemporary and traditional songs from many traditions, including Solstice and Hannukah. The program starts at 8 p.m. There will be no open mike. The minimum donation of $8 includes pastries and beverages. • Our Ethical Humanities discussion is on Sunday, December 5th, at 12:15 p.m. Led by Ken Novak, we’ll use a book about empathy by philosopher and cognitive scientist J.D. Trout, It’s titled The Empathy Gap in hardcover and Why Empathy Matters in paperback. Order the book from Amazon, using the link on our homepage, at ethicalhuman.org. • Our Creative Writers group, led by John Taylor, again meets on the third Sunday, December 19th, at 12:15 p.m. Come and share your short, original works with us. • Our Film Discussion Group, led by John Ungashick, meets on Monday, December 20th, at 7:15 p.m. We’ve again chosen two current movies. Fair Game is a fictional account of how CIA agent Valerie Plume was outed in retaliation for husband Joseph Wilson’s exposing a Bush administration pretext for invading Iraq. It was directed by Doug Liman, with Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. Black Swan is the story of the rivalry and friendship of two ballerinas. It was directed by Darren Aronofsky, with Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Winona Ryder. • Our next bimonthly Fiction Circle, led by Ken Novak, is on Sunday, January 9th, at 12:15 p.m. It features One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Novelist Gabriel Garcia Márquez. Considered one of the 20th Century’s most influential novels, it is available everywhere. Sight impaired? See Ken for an audio copy. back to the top Recent Sunday Programs • Lawrence Okrent, city planner and a presenter for the Chicago Architecture Foundation, spoke October 24th on “The Evolution of Grant Park—1837 to the Present.” Jan Kuhn was the moderator. In the first of many slides, Okrent showed how Grant Park was first laid out in 1837, when the Lake Michigan shoreline lay at the present Michigan Ave. He noted that the park did not reach its present extent until 1911, after successive landfills. One oddity he showed was the early Illinois Central railway tracks lying on a trestle in the lake. Okrent related how retail merchant Montgomery Ward, the “self-appointed guardian of Grant Park,” who, with Daniel Burnham, fought to keep the park building-free. He noted the many recent developments, including the Lake Shore Drive bridge and realignment, the parking lots over the railroad yards, the tall apartment buildings flanking the park, the Museum campus, and Millennium Park. “Grant Park is an urban treasure,” he emphatically concluded. • Peggy Parfenoff, executive director of WorldChicago, spoke October 31st, on “Citizen Diplomacy, One Handshake at a Time.” Katie Merrell was the moderator. Parfenoff said that “face-to-face” diplomacy by ordinary people “can have an impact on international relations” and “combat the decline in U.S. reputation abroad.” She showed many slides of groups of young people who have come to the U.S. as part of international exchange programs. Included were young intellectuals, musicians, journalists, and “future leaders” of their countries, from Africa, China, Russia, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Parfenoff spoke of these young people being hosted by families around the country and of being engaged in hospice care, legislative fellowships, and crisis management. She deplored cuts in foreign language study in the U.S., and pointed out that “We have the responsibility to engage with the rest of the world.” • Carl Rosen, Western Region President of the United Electrical Workers union, spoke November 7th on “A Strong Labor Movement: Necessary for Political Progress.” Alan Kimmel was the moderator. Rosen said, “The labor movement is the one institution that has access to the resources and people needed to check corporate power.” He said the great progressive movements of recent years, such as environmental, civil rights, health care, and social security, have been strengthened by their alliance with labor. Criticizing the philosophy of the free market, he contended that labor unions have been central to moving people out of poverty and driving the economy. Rosen lamented the decline of the labor movement in recent years, beginning with McCarthyite attacks and a continuing over-reliance on the Democratic Party. “Labor put itself to sleep and lost its drive and energy,” he said. “They gave up their right to set social policy.” He said labor “needs to regain its strength” and “stand up for everyone.” • James Hodapp and Larry Godson presented “The Hody Coyote Prairie Puppet Show” on November 14th. They were introduced by Mike Rush. An intergenerational program, it was especially enjoyed by the 25 Sunday School children sprawled on the floor in front of the stage. The humorous banter between Hodapp and two coyote puppets manipulated by Godson focused on the need for protecting what’s left of the original Illinois prairie and its wildlife. They interacted with the children about what their favorite animals are and also engaged them in a Native American “ghost dance.” From the President As I write this, I’m recovering from a tiring but invigorating weekend with our YES youth at the annual YES conference. This was my second year, and I again had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other youth advisers and see our young people engage in serious dialogue and serious fun. The experience encourages me to believe that we’re doing something right. It’s clear that our Societies are helping to raise thoughtful, engaged, and caring young adults. The same weekend back at our Society, I hear that several of our own musicians put on a roaring-good Second Saturday Coffeehouse, enjoyed by a large crowd of members and friends. Events like this remind us, in case that’s needed, of the many activities we have beyond our top-billing Sunday platforms—pre-platform Colloquies, Creative Writers group, Fiction Circle, Ethical Humanities discussion group, film discussion group, Ethnic Dinner Out, and women’s and men’s groups. And that’s not counting the many volunteering opportunities. This, to me, is community. —Steve Julstrom , President Sunday School Scoop I can hardly believe it’s December and our Sunday School year is nearly half over! This will be a short but busy month. We’re sponsoring a “Holiday Toy and Gift Card Drive” to benefit the clients of Between Friends, a local women’s shelter. We hope you’ll help with donations of new toys, grocery or department store gift cards, and CTA transit cards. The children are working on a play for the Winter Festival and some are preparing individual performances. This festival is a lovely tradition in our community and I hope you’ll all come and be part of it. The Sunday School will be closed Dec. 26th and Jan. 2nd, but we’ll be back again on the 9th. Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful holiday season—and remember: “Be Good for Goodness Sake!” —Sharon Appelquist, Director sundayschool@ethicalhuman.org back to the top Activities and Announcements • Our Annual Pledge Drive has begun. Members of the Society have received letters asking them to renew their financial support for the values we share as an Ethical community. Each member is urged to aim at raising their pledge to one percent of their after-tax income. Those committing two percent will be acclaimed Pillars of the Society, as will those pledging 20% more than last year. A substantial number of members choosing this level of support will make a major dent in our deficit. As of November 21st, pledges had reached $26,910—toward a goal of $67,000, or half of our annual budget and a 20% increase over last year. Thank you all for your generous and prompt support! A kickoff reception for pledging members is on Saturday, December 4th, 6:30–7:30 p.m., just before the Coffeehouse (with a special discounted price of $5 for those who have pledged). To help us plan for food and drink, RSVP to Sue Walton (847-475-0391) by noon on Friday. Thanks! • Our Ethical Action group formally reconvened last month and chose Ken Novak as a co-chair. It meets next on Sunday, December 12th, after the platform, and is seeking both volunteers and ideas for more good works to perform. Another Soup Kitchen is planned at the Evanston Baptist Church, 1717 Benson, on Monday, January 24th, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We need a dozen volunteers to shop, cook, serve, and clean up. Sponsored by Interfaith Action of Evanston, of which we are a member, it’s an opportunity for serving the homeless and hungry. To sign up, contact Marilee Cole at 847-653-8050 or Marileesgarden@comcast.net. In other Ethical Action, we’re again collecting new and like-new items for the Rice Children’s Holiday Store in Evanston. The collection deadline is Sunday, December 12th. The sale is on Wednesday, December 15th. To participate, contact Marne Glaser at mm.glaser@yahoo.com. • Our YES (Youth of Ethical Societies) teenage group hosted the annual YES conference, November 11–14, for the first time. Focusing on the theme “Personal Identity and Image,” forty YESers and their adult advisers from across the U.S., gathered at Camp Algonquin in McHenry County. They also spent a night at the Society and toured downtown Chicago. Among the participants were four teenagers from our Society. Helping them make the weekend a success were Melanie Neal, Ed and Laura Drower, Katie Merrell, Steve Julstrom, Jan Kuhn, Michelle Harns, and Sue Walton. • The AEU Fall Religious Education Conference and Family Weekend met November 5–7, in Stony Brook, NY. It was led by our own Aimee Neumann, national RE director. Also attending from our Society were Tom and JoAnn Hoeppner and Sharon Appelquist. A major focus, on the theme of “How We Help,” was on Ethical Action projects. • Our Coffee and Social Hour is organized by Sue Walton and Judy Carney each Sunday. They thank everyone for bringing the delicious snacks. We’re asked to follow a schedule corresponding to our last names: 1st Sun. A–D; 2nd Sun. E–K; 3rd Sun. L–P; 4th Sun. Q–Z; 5th Sun. all. Thanks also to the hosts, who are reminded to switch with another member if they can’t make their assigned Sunday. • Our annual January Clean-up Day is on Sunday, January 2nd, 10a.m.–2 p.m. We’ll start with coffee and donuts and break around noon for pizza. We need both young and old to help clean and organize the basement, utility closets, library, kitchen, and Sunday School. For information, contact Building Committee Co-Chair Scott Walton at 847-4750-0391. • Amazon.com has a link on the home page of our website (www.ethicalhuman.org). When you order holiday gifts, we get a commission. It’s a great way to support the Society. • 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. • Getting married? Naming your baby? Planning a memorial? Our Ethical Officiants—Marne Glaser, JoAnn Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, Ellen McManus, and Ken Novak— are authorized by the American Ethical Union to perform marriages, baby namings, and memorial services, just like ministers and rabbis of traditional religious congregations. For a caring, secular ceremony, inquire at our office. • Become a Society member—if you enjoy our Sunday morning programs, made new friends at our activities and discussions, share our ethical humanist outlook, and want to be part of a caring community. It’s time to make a commitment. Membership Chair Tom Hoeppner asks you to call him at 847-256-3622 with any questions. The next Membership Orientation is on Sunday, December 5th, at 12:15 p.m. • Our Society runs on members’ skills. The Volunteer Board at the library lists where you are needed—on the Publicity, Ethical Action, Building, Caring, and Fund Raising committees, and for help in A/V, newsletter mailings, opening and closing the building for outside rentals, and for drivers to assist members in coming to programs. Contact Sheila Curren at 773-743-7976 or drcurren@comcast.net. back Tribute Fund •To Nina Weiss, on her work in being chosen for 100 Artists of the Midwest. —from Matt & Marilee Cole 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; Yolanda Adler; Lisa Crowe, Laura Drower, Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Evan Kane, Jan Kuhn, Oliver Pergams. Sunday School Director: Sharon Appelquist Newsletter Editor: Alan Kimmel Ethical Officiants: Marne Glaser, JoAnn Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, Ken Novak AEU Representative: Scott Walton Copyright © Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago • Link Disclaimer