Newsletter

Newsletter of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago

August 2008

Welcome to Our Sunday Morning Programs in August

• A special ETHICAL HUMANITIES discussion, led by Ken Novak, is our regular program for Sunday, August 3rd. We'll discuss In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan, a New York Times Magazine writer and University of California journalism professor. Pollan argues against focusing on chemical nutrients rather than on whole foods, advising us: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." The book and audio versions are available at local libraries. The vision-impaired can contact Ken for an audio copy.

• OLIVER PERGAMS, Society member and environmental biologist at the University of Illinois, speaks on Sunday, August 10th. His topic is "The Alarming Shift Away from Outdoor Recreation." Using such variables as visits to national parks, camping permits, and game licenses, Oliver will discuss his widely publicized research into how and why people are spending far less time in nature than ever before.

• "MAKING TOUGH CHOICES: LIFE'S ETHICAL DILEMMAS" is the topic of our program for Sunday, August 17th. In an interactive group discussion led by Susan and Joe Burck, we'll be challenged to come up with ethical solutions to some puzzling real-life situations.

• Our CREATIVE WRITERS group, led by Milt Zerkin, presents its annual showcase program on Sunday, August 24th. We'll be entertained by a stirring medley of original playlets, 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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Coming Activities and Events

• Our MUSICAL JAM GROUP meets again on Sunday, August 3rd, right after the morning program. Bring your voice, guitar, mandolin, drum, or other instrument and join us in a fun session of folk and popular songs.

• Our SECOND SATURDAY COFFEE HOUSE, hosted by Vicki Elberfeld, is on Saturday, August 9th, at 8 p.m. Featured in a full-length concert will be Andrew Calhoun, folksinger, songwriter, poet, and veteran of the Chicago folk music scene. Called "unpretentious, spontaneous, insightful, and darkly witty," he will delight us with his own songs, Scottish ballads, and songs and poems by such writers as Dave Carter, Mary Oliver, and Robert Frost. To accommodate Calhoun's longer performance, there will be no open mike. The minimum $7 donation at the door includes refreshments.

• Our next ETHNIC DINNER OUT is on Saturday, August 16th, at the New China Buffet, 7566 N. Western Ave., at Howard St., in Chicago. Enjoy all-you-can-eat seafood, sushi, fried chicken, and other great dishes. There is free parking. The prices are great. We'll order at 5:30 p.m. Please let us know you're coming by contacting Richard Curren at richard_curren@yahoo.com.

• Our FILM DISCUSSION GROUP, led by John Ungashick, meets on Monday, August 18th, at 7:15 p.m. Two current movies were chosen. The Dark Knight, Batman sequel about the battle between good and evil, was directed by Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Brideshead Revisited, from the novel by Evelyn Waugh, is a suspenseful drama about forbidden love. It was directed by Julian Jarrold and stars Emma Thompson and Ben Wishaw.

• We will be having a Rummage Sale on Saturday, August 23rd, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. inside the building. Please donate used items that are in good, clean and working condition to the sale. Drop off the items in the Community Room any Sunday before the event. If you want to drop off items during the week, please call the Society office first at 847-677-3334. If transportation is a problem, please contact Gail Hardesty at g_hardesty@sbcglobal.net for help or if you are interested in volunteering to help with the event. (Gail will be unavailable between August 8 to 13.) Items must be able to fit into a car. No large furniture, nor heavy items can be accepted. Some suggested donations are: jewelry, house wares, pictures and frames, tools, toys, books, small appliances in working order (no microwaves), yard equipment, knick-knacks, glassware, nice apparel (with hangers... we can return hangers to you.)

• Our next FICTION CIRCLE discussion, led by Ken Novak, is on Sunday, September 7th, at 12:15 p.m. We've chosen Julian Barnes' 1989 novel A History of the World in 101/2 Chapters. Playful, provocative, and ironic, this series of first-person retellings of historical events begins with a stowaway's version of what Noah's Arks (sic) were really like.

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Recent Sunday Programs

• JOHN UNGASHICK, a member of the Society, spoke June 29th on "The Cathars: Medieval Heretics or the First Moderns?" The meeting was moderated by Matt Cole.

John described the Cathars (or Albeginseans) as an influential Christian sect in 12–13th century Europe that focused on the "problem of evil." He said they questioned how a merciful god could inflict evil upon innocents and contended that evil resides in the material world, which included distinctions between people, such as gender, religion, race, and class. Noting also how the Cathars advocated religious tolerance, equality, nonviolence, and not harming animals, John called them forerunners of such modern movements as pacifism, secularism, vegetarianism, market capitalism, and even communism.

John went on to relate how the corrupt leaders of the church, fearful of the competition, called the Cathars "heretics" and "servants of the devil" and included them as a target of the Crusades. He said the subsequent Albeginsean Crusade, in which the Cathar cities and fortresses were destroyed, led to the Inquisition. Today, he noted, Cathar ruins are a major tourist attraction in southern France.

• DEATH OF A SALESMAN, classic play by Arthur Miller, was the subject of a special Fiction Circle discussion program led by Adult Education chair Ken Novak on July 6th.

Ken and Susan Burck began by reciting the opening dialog between protagonist Willy Loman and his wife Linda, which posed the idea of "tragedy in the common man." In the ensuing discussion, we noted the motivations of the various characters and their relationships and conflicts. We pointed to the power of positive thinking, the pitfalls of wishful thinking, what is "normal" behavior, and how much of personal failure is due to our own fault or to societal pressures.

We noted the play's skillful use of flashbacks, its deep personal insights, and the debate among critics as to whether it was a "great" play. Ken and Susan recited other short dialogues in the play, including Linda's demand for Willy that "attention must be paid." Especially poignant was Linda's closing lament at Willy's suicide, "Why did you do it? . . . I can't understand it, Willy. I made the last payment on the house today. . . . And there'll be nobody home. We're free and clear."

• SVETLANA BEKMAN and CAROLYN WELCH, Society members and experienced estate planning attorneys, presented a program on July 13th. Their topic was "Top 5 Reasons Everyone Needs an Estate Plan."

Svetlana and Carolyn defined estate planning as a means of preserving and distributing our assets after our death. With the help of slides they discussed five reasons why we each need an estate plan. The first was to ensure that the assets go to our intended beneficiaries in the manner we desire, the second to minimize or eliminate probate, the third to assign financial, medical, and guardian responsibilities, the fourth to reduce or eliminate estate taxes, and the fifth to benefit a favorite cause.

Svetlana and Carolyn described trusts, wills, taxes, powers of attorney for health care and property, designation of beneficiaries, and appointment of executors. Noting that not one size fits all, they cited numerous individual examples and answered many questions. They called estate planning an investment toward current and future savings, efficiencies, and financial security.

• NINA WEISS, Society member and noted landscape artist and art lecturer, spoke July 20th on "An Artist's Travels and Spiritual Journey." The meeting was moderated by Cynthia Diaz.

Nina told of studying to become an artist and how, during her early travels as a teenager, "landscapes became my love." She showed many slides of her stunning, rich-colored landscapes, from her continuing travels around the world, in Louisiana, Costa Rica, France, Ireland, New Zealand, England, Italy, Thailand, Nova Scotia, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Nina explained that her work, done in pastels, washes, and oils, was based on thousands of her own photographs and sketches. "I prefer to work looser–sometimes naturalistic, sometimes impressionist," she said. But "I don't like to paint waves, barns, and sunsets," she chuckled. "They don't need me." And some places in nature, though beautiful, "don't inspire my art, she added. She encourages her students to "Do it because you love it."

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Our People

• Malcolm Lieblich has joined the Society. Malcolm lives in downtown Chicago and is a retired professor of linguistics at Southern Illinois University. He likes the Society for "its people," especially those "who read a lot of books."! Welcome to our ranks, Malcolm.

• Colin Harris and Kimberley Schlechter were married by JoAnn Hoeppner in a peaceful outdoor ceremony in Evanston on June 21st. Also married, on July 12th in Evanston by Ken Novak, were Stephen Seltz and Cybele Maylone. During the "sharing" portion of Stephen's and Cybele's ceremony, the groom's great aunt, Amelia Kohn, announced that she and her husband Aaron had been married by New York Ethical Leader John Lovejoy Elliott many years ago. Congratulations to both couples and our wishes for a long and happy life together!

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Sunday School Scoop

As the summer is waning, we're working to get the Sunday School ready for our new season in the fall. We had a clean-up day on July 20th and got a great start in getting our rooms, closets, and supplies ready. Thanks to everyone who helped. We're continuing to make lunches for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter throught the summer, and our next date to deliver them is August 17th. If you can help provide ingredients for us, please contact me.

We'll be sending out registration materials soon. Look for our ad in the August issue of Chicago Parent, but remember that word-of-mouth is the best advertising–so be sure to talk about us whenever you can! And if you have a special talent or skill you'd like to share with our Sunday School this year, please let me know.

—Sharon Appelquist, Director

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From the President

The first few weeks as your president have been remarkable. They have made me appreciate the dedication of our prior leaders and see the amazing work that so many of our members do to keep the Society going. Literally every few hours I'm emailed news from one of our committees or from a member working on a project. In the last few weeks I've seen people volunteer to keep our Sunday coffee hour going, run a soup kitchen, make repairs and improvements to our building, plan a Sunday School picnic, come up with new fundraising ideas, devise outreach programs, keep our energy costs down, and support members in need.

I thank our members who have prepared and delivered our excellent summer programs. Thanks also to Fred Malkinson for his maintaining our library, Milt Zerkin for his plant care, and Leif Zerkin for all the tireless tasks he has done. These last three are taking a well-deserved break from their activities. It would be wonderful if some new people would contact Sheila Curren, our volunteer coordinator, to do these tasks.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, wear sunscreen, use bug spray, and wear your bike helmet—we need you all healthy.

—Matt Cole , President

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Notices and Announcements

• A Society Work Party is planned for Sunday, August 31st, beginning at 10 a.m. In celebration of Labor Day, Society members of all ages are welcome to help clean and organize the building for our fall opening. Lunch will be provided. For more information, please contact Scott Walton or David Wokosin, co-chairs of the Building Committee.

• Our Environmental Footprint Committee, led by Lisa Crowe and David Wokosin, plans to increase the Society's visibility in the community by reaching out to other environmental-minded groups. One plan, to be discussed at the committee's next meeting, on Sunday, August 10th, at 12:30 p.m., is to host a series of sustainability workshops

• Our Tribute Fund is a way we honor each other with congratulations on a birthday or anniversary, condolences on the loss of a loved one, wishes for recovery from an illness, or hailing a personal achievement. Tribute forms are on the literature tables.

• We welcome new members. If you share our ethical outlook and wish to join our caring community, contact Membership Chair Tom Hoeppner. The next Membership Orientation is on Sunday, August 3rd, 12:15 p.m.

• 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 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.

• The free electronic edition of our newsletter comes sooner and saves postage. Email a request to the office, noting pdfnewsletter as the subject and your name and address. A subscription to the printed edition is $20 per year if you're not a member, a contributing friend, or new on the mailing list.

• Our Summer Coffee Hour is do-it-yourself. With Judy Carney and Sue Walton on well-deserved breaks, Sheila and Richard Curren are providing oversight. Hot water will be furnished but food items must be pre-cut, ready to eat, and on disposable plates. All mugs must be washed and leftovers taken home. Let's leave everything as clean as we found it. Thanks!

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Worth Repeating

Founded by Dr. Felix Adler in 1876, Ethical Culture is a religious, educational, and social movement. The early history of Ethical Culture developed in response to the evils wrought by the industrial revolution. With a twofold commitment to both theory and practice, Ethical Culture has sought to anchor its social activism in moral ideals and a critical understanding of the sources of human oppression.

In accordance with a predominant current of nineteenth century thought, Adler interpreted religion as an evolving phenomenon. He aimed to bring religion into modern times by creating a movement exclusively committed to ethical ideals, while eliminating supernatural belief and unscientific practice. Human dignity and interdependence lay at the heart of Adler's ethics. The mission of Ethical Culture then and now is to expand and deepen reverence for the worth of others as a vehicle to underscore one's own. It works to make primary the ethical factor in all relationships of life, ranging from the family to society, and ultimately the international arena.

—Joe Chuman, in the Encyclopedia of American Social Movements, 2004

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TributeFund

• A tribute from Dick and Judy Carney
—with heartfelt thanks for your outpouring of good wishes through cards and visits.

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 &
Dick Carney, Vice Presidents; Paul Ozarowski, Secretary; John Ungashick, Treasurer; Susan Burck, Lisa Crowe, Sheila Caplan Curren, , Steve Freedman, David Hardesty, Oliver Pergams, Renee Sullivan

Sunday School Director: Sharon Appelquist
Newsletter Editor: Alan Kimmel
Ethical Officiants: Marne Glaser, Jo-Ann Hoeppner, Tom Hoeppner, Ken Novak
AEU Representative: Tom Hoeppner