Newsletter
of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago
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Sunday Morning Programs | Coming
Activities and Events | Recent Sunday
Programs | Notices and Announcements
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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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KEN NOVAK, our Adult Education chair, leads an expanded Fiction Circle discussion of Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys on Sunday, July 5th. This story about the interaction between a group of English schoolboys and their teachers, points to the importance of questioning and critical thinking in learning and in transmitting knowledge. A movie based on the play is available on CD.
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MIKE DUPUIS, a Society member and longtime home brewer of craft beers, speaks on “The History, Art, and Science of Beer” on Sunday, July 12th. Mike will trace the history of our oldest and most favored fermented beverage and discuss the alchemy of transforming barley, hops, and water into the many styles of lagers and ales. He promises an “intoxicating” lecture.
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The 2009 AEU ASSEMBLY, held the weekend of June 12–14 in St. Louis, is the subject of our program on Sunday, July 19th. Delegates Yolanda Adler, Paul Ozarowski, Scott Walton, and Carolyn Welch will describe highlights of this annual meeting of the American Ethical Union. We’ll hear about the workshops and business sessions they went to and the people and Ethical Leaders from around the country who they met and shared experiences with.
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JOHN UNGASHICK, a history buff and Society treasurer, speaks Sunday, July 26th, on the intriguing subject “Was the Civil War Inevitable?” John will discuss whether, going back to the Constitutional Convention and the issuance of the Declaration of Independence, this so-called “irrepressible conflict” was necessary for our country to become what it is today.
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ROCCO GILIO, JOHN UNGASHICK, and ABE DOLGOFF make up a panel on Sunday, August 2nd, to discuss The Chief Culprit: Stalin’s Grand Design to Start World War II. The author, Victor Suvorov, asserts that Stalin intended the war to be the staging ground for a global war to topple the capitalist states.
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DAVID WOKOSIN, Society member and research professor of physiology at Northwestern University, speaks on “More Sustainable Living Via Renewable Energy” on Sunday, August 9th. An instructor with the Illinois Solar Energy Association, David will discuss personal energy usage and available renewable energy generation systems. Costs and incentives will be contrasted with energy efficiency efforts, both aimed at reducing our personal carbon emission footprint and help preserve the existing natural world.
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FRED MALKINSON, another history buff and member of the Society, speaks on “Going to America: A 19th Century Emigration Story” on Sunday, August 16th. Fred will discuss the less-told, reverse story of the experiences, hardships, and acculturation issues of those who left their homes to emigrate to America.
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MILT ZERKIN, a member of the Society, leads our Creative Writers group in its annual showcase program on Sunday, August 23rd. We’ll be entertained by a 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.
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YOLANDA ADLER, GAIL HARDESTY, SUSAN BURCK, and JOE BURCK, all Society members, close our summer programming on Sunday, August 31st, with “200 Years Apart: Jane Austen and Gloria Steinem.” This program of readings—contrasting Austen’s irony and gentle sarcasm with Steinem’s militancy—will show the impact of each writer on our societal mores and how they used their pens as a weapon for women.
Coming
Society Events
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Our Film Discussion Group, led by John Ungashick, resumes this summer. On Monday, July 20th, we’ll discuss two current films. Up is the box-office-smash animated cartoon featuring an airship exploration adventure. It was directed by Pete Docter. Away We Go is the story of an expectant young couple’s search for where to settle. It was directed by Sam Mendes, with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph.
On Monday, August 17th, we’ll discuss two more current films, to be chosen on July 20th. Proposed so far are Public Enemies, the Dillinger film with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, and Julie and Julia, with Meryl Streep. Both sessions start at 7:15 p.m.
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Our Ethnic Dinners Out continue this summer. On Saturday, July 18th, enjoy fine Southern fare at the Dixie Kitchen, 825 Church St., Evanston. (The Hyde Park location, now closed, was one of President Obama’s favorites.) There is metered street parking and a nearby public lot.
On Saturday, August 15th, we’ll be at Gulliver’s, 2727 W. Howard, Chicago. Enjoy Italian, Mexican, and traditional American fare. Park at metered street spaces or in the lot across the street. On both dates, we’ll order at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Richard Curren in person, or at richard_curren@yahoo.com.
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Our Second Saturday Coffee House, led by Vicki Elberfeld, resumes this summer. On July 11th, the featured performer is our own, violinist Rachel Baiman, who, with guitarist /singer Greg Reish, presents a program of bluegrass, jazz, and rock. Rachel is an Illinois State Fiddle Champion and music major at Vanderbilt University. Greg is a professor of music at Roosevelt University.
On August 8th, we’ll enjoy a live recording session of the Whiskey Bucket Blues Review, featuring Charlie Rossiter, Henry Berry, and Jack Rossiter-Munley. Both performances start at 8 p.m. There is a $5 minimum charge and low-priced refreshments will be available.
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Our Creative Writers group, led by Milt Zerkin, meets on Sunday, July 26th, at 12:15 p.m. They will be rehearsing for their special August 23rd showcase program.
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Recent Sunday Program
•Dick Whitaker, a member of the Society and recent graduate of the Humanist Institute, spoke at our summer-opening program on June 14th. His topic was “The Future of Religion.” The meeting was moderated by Alan Kimmel.
Dick said a study group he led on the subject at Northwestern University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute concluded that a variety of religions will be with us far into the future, contrary to predictions of recent “angry atheist” authors such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. He said he was inspired rather by biologist David Sloan Wilson, who “argues that religion is evolution at work” and that “religious groups are products of cultural group selection.”
Dick borrowed Anglican priest Keith Ward’s definition of religion as “a set of practices for establishing a relationship to a supernatural or transcendent reality, for the sake of obtaining human good or avoiding harm.” Dick concluded, “Ethical Humanism is best prepared to develop the moral codes that will bring our society together.”
Annual Membership Meeting
•President Matt Cole welcomed some 60 members of the Society to our annual meeting on Sunday, June 7th. Matt reported another successful year of programs, activities,
and membership growth, and praised us for our hard work. “We don’t have a paid Leader,” he said, “but we are not leaderless.” Treasurer John Ungashick reported our most lucrative pledge drive ever but noted that we are still far from our goal of pledges reaching 50 percent of total income. We adopted our annual budget, with a substantial decrease in income from investments and an increase in expenses for the Sunday School. We heard many upbeat committee reports.
In elections to the Board of Trustees, Sheila Curren, Oliver Pergams, and Carolyn Welch were reelected—Sheila and Oliver to second 3-year terms, Carolyn to a full 3-year first term. Sue Walton was elected to a first 3-year term, replacing Susan Burck. In this rare, contested election, 72 votes were cast, 14 by proxy. Following the meeting, Matt named Board members Lisa Crowe, David Hardesty, and John Ungashick as the Officers Nominating Committee.
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From the President
I wish our members and the people they love a happy and healthy summer. Apply that sunscreen; watch out for mosquitoes and ticks; wear your bike helmets. We want you all back in top-top shape. There’s lots of work to do around here.
I believe that all who attended our annual membership meeting would agree we had a great year. We continue to attract new members and despite the economy we’re hanging in there. Before going out to play with my grandbabies and puppies, I thank Tom Hoeppner for a fabulous Memorial Day weekend.
I welcome Sue Walton to her rookie season on the Board and thank Carolyn Welch, Oliver Pergams, and Sheila Curren on returning for another tour of duty. Last but far from least, I express our appreciation to Susan Burck for her seven years of service on the Board, five of which she served very capably as President.
—Matt Cole , President
Our People
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Scott Walton, a former president of the Society and now co-chair of our Building Committee, was elected to the Board of the American Ethical Union at the AEU Assembly in St. Louis in June. Scott replaces Tom Hoeppner, term-limited after nearly ten years. Congratulations, Scott!
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Tina Stevenson has joined the Society. She lives in Logan Square and is a nurse. Active in our Environmental Footprint Committee, she enjoys our “thoughtful speakers and members who are critical thinkers and doers engaged with the critical issues.” Glad you found us, Tina!
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Eli Popuch, son of members Dan Popuch and Cynthia Diaz, graduated from Macalester College on May16th with a degree in geography. As a participant in the Honors pro-gram, Eli earlier had presented a paper on community eco-nomic development at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers. Congratulations, Eli!
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Lei Lei and Steven Wyatt were married on May 30th by our Ethical Officiant JoAnn Hoeppner. Our best for a long happy life together!
Sunday School Scoop
The Sunday School is now in hiatus, and plans are already underway for next year. Thanks to our wonderful YES group, childcare will again be provided for the summer Sunday programs. We’ll continue to pack lunches for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter every third Sunday. If you can donate something (lunchmeat, cheese, drink, fruit, chips, or dessert for 30), please let me know or use our bulletin board signup sheet.
Though our families tend to get very busy in the summer, we’re planning a few outings. Through our fundraising efforts with the YES group, we’ve raised enough money to buy a new ping-pong table. Watch the community room for it to show up and challenge me to a game, I love to play!
—Sharon
Appelquist, Director
sundayschool@ethicalhuman.org
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Activities and Announcements
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Our current Society officers were reelected by the Board of Trustees on Wednesday, June 10th. Matt Cole remains president, Yolanda Adler vice-president, John Ungashick treasurer, and Paul Ozarowski secretary.
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Our Ethical Action group was having two activities in June—a table at the Peace Fest in Lincoln Park on June 21st and making and serving sandwiches at the Night Ministry in Pilsen on June 23rd.
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Our Summer Rummage Sale, a big moneymaker last year, is on Saturday, August 29th. You can bring your high-quality clothing, household, and electronic items to the building, where they will be stored, sorted, and priced. Pickup arrangements and offers to help run the sale can be made by calling the office or contacting Ken Novak at kennovak@gmail.com.
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Our Annual Fall Cleanup is set for Sunday, September 6th, at 10 a.m. Donuts and lunch will be provided. For information, contact Scott Walton at sns@swalton.com or David Wokosin at scopedoc@northwestern.edu.
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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 achieve-ment. Each tribute is printed in the newsletter. Forms are on the literature tables.
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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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Get our free electronic newsletter. It comes sooner and saves postage. Email us a request. 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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Become a member of the Society. Making this commitment to our caring community is a way of showing that you share our ethical outlook. Call Membership Chair Tom Hoeppner at 847-256-3622, or come to a Membership Orientation—on Sunday, July 19th or Sunday, August 9th.
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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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TributeFund
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In appreciation for the beautiful plaque...and 35 years of a philosophical home, outstanding programs, and the many lasting friendships made.
—from Dick and Judy Carney
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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; Susan Burck, Lisa Crowe, Sheila Caplan Curren, Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Oliver Pergams, Renee Sullivan, 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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