Blythedale Children's Hospital: another Ethical Culture accomplishment

The corporate department in which I work circulated an internal flier asking employees to consider donating to one of two area children's hospitals in conjunction with its annual charity drive. The company generously matches employee contributions dollar for dollar, so it's a great use of one's personal donation funds.

I checked out both hospitals' websites before deciding. The history page of the Blythedale Children's Hospital (Valhalla, NY) begins thusly (my emphasis):

Blythedale's first recorded history dates back to 1891, when a group of women of the New York Ethical Culture Society began visiting shut-in children in New York City, furnishing them with clothing and food, as well as obtaining medical attention for them.

Slam dunk! Another in a long long of past charitable causes boot-strapped into existence by Ethical Culture. Because of this history that I hold so dear, I'll be giving them a little more than I would have otherwise. It doesn't render the other children's hospital any less worthy, but this one holds a personal connection for me.

Platform VIdeo: Ethical Culture and Human Rights

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, December 6, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Ethical Culture and Human Rights (12/6/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Dr. Joseph Chuman has been the leader of The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County for over 35 years. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Columbia University, where he is adjunct professor of religion and an academic advisor in the human rights curriculum. Dr. Chuman lectures frequently to public audiences on philosophy, social issues and humanist thought.

Ethical Culture Touches Human Beings

In todays platform at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County Dr. Joseph Chuman, our leader, presented a stimulating presentation on the concept of human rights, it's ongoing evolution and it's growing presence in the collective modern consciousness.

One tidbit I found particularly interesting was the impact specifically, Ethical Culture has had on the revolutionary 'Human Rights' gains of our recent times. Major gains like that of child labor laws, civil rights, and public health can be traced back in part, to several of the Ethical Culture movements leaders and activist members.

Recently I took my child to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side for a tour of a tenement with interesting historical antidotes that shed light on life in the tenements through a span of time. What I did not hear about in the museums presentation regarding the improvements to public health laws brought upon the tenement dwellings was that it was Ethical Culture leaders that spear headed those efforts. That I learned today at our Sunday platform. It's hard to fathom how many human beings were touched upon by Ethical Culture with just that one successful effort.

Platform Video: What is HumanLight?

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 29, 2009, by Patrick Colucci (introduced by Susan Lesh):

What is HumanLight? from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

[The video referenced in this video can be viewed at humanlight.org.]

Everything You always wanted to know about HumanLight, the Humanist Winter Holiday, but Were Afraid to Ask

Ok, so maybe you were not afraid to ask really, but just haven't thought about HumanLight much before, or have never even heard of it? Here's your chance to learn all about the winter holiday designed to promote humanism and celebrate humanist values. Patrick Colucci has been involved with promoting and publicizing HumanLight since it's earliest inception, so he can probably answer any questions you might have. (If he can't answer something, he'll make up a reasonable-sounding guess....we humanists do always try to be reason-based, afterall!)

Patrick Colucci is vice-chair of the HumanLight Committee (www.humanlight.org) and a member of the New Jersey Humanist Network (www.njhn.org) and the American Humanist Association. Based in New Jersey, he's a long-time activist in the movements for Humanism and for peace and social justice.

Ethical Culture Offers Perspective During this Thanksgiving Season

The Sunday platform this week at the Ethical Culture Society offered a sobering perspective as we head into the upcoming Thanksgiving season. As a way of helping the Sunday School children understand the realities of world hunger, adults too, were privy to the reminder that we are very lucky indeed. I can't imagine the horror I would feel if I had to watch helplessly as my children starve. Amoung the many stories of struggles and resilliance we heard, those were the ones that stuck in my mind.

This week I will say a quiet thanks to the bounty in our community but I will also be mindful of the continued work that needs to be done for those who are not so lucky.

Man is the Measure of all Things

This week I attended the 'Introduction to Humanism and Ethical Culture' course conducted by Dr. Joseph Chuman at the Ethical Culture Society in Teaneck.

I was reminded of a course I took many years ago in college, 'Old Testament Literature.' I remember then, the amazement I experienced when I became aware of the pervasiveness of Judeo-Christian themes in our modern lives. I felt the same shock when I started to understand better the history of Humanism and it's impact on our modern organizations both in human thought, spirit and institutions through the ages.

When the ancient Greeks first came to the task of designing an educational program with the goal of enhancing the humanity in the educated individual, a massive shift in philosophy was taking place. The focus was no longer on the deities but on man, for the good of men, by making the most of his mind and unleashing his creativity.

However, it was also made clear that the humanities were not designed to deny the existence of god, only to shift the thinking of he/she/it from the foreground to the background. Since my views on god are currently ambivalent, this is a welcome insight. I don't have to decide. In humanism, "man is the measure of all things;" a statement by an ancient Greek philosopher and shared nicely in both Greek and English by Dr. Chuman.

I'm looking forward to part II of this course which will focus on Ethical Culture, it's birth and it's expression of humanistic ideals.

Platform Video: Now You Can Choose! Issues in Sex Selection

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 15, 2009, by Barbara Katz Rothman (introduced by Janet Glass):

Barbara Katz Rothman: Now You Can Choose! Issues in Sex Selection (11/15/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

In the last thirty years we have seen the slow emergence and acceptance of something new under the sun: known fetal sex. Women now know the sex of the fetus they carry; and with selective abortion, selective implantation, or newly developing technologies, they can actually choose the sex of the baby they will bear. How does this change women's experiences of pregnancy? What are the consequences of sex selection for the families involved, and for the rest of the world? Looking beyond the well-known sex imbalances that occur 'out there,' what is happening in American society as fetal sex becomes increasingly one more consumer option?

Barbara Katz Rothman, Professor of Sociology at the City University of New York, is on the Faculty of the Health and Society Program of the Charité -Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, and has served as a Visiting Professor at the Universitat Osnabrueck in Germany, a Fulbright Professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and a Leverhulme Professor at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom. She is the recipient of the Jessie Bernard Award of the American Sociological Associat ion, has been named a “Mother of Bioethics” by the Women’s Bioethics Network, and has received the Mentoring Award from Sociologists for Women in Society and the Lee Founders Award of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. She is editor of BIOETHICAL ISSUES, SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHILDBEARING: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES. Her books, translated into German, Japanese and Finnish, include IN LABOR, LABORING ON (with Wendy Simonds), THE TENTATIVE PREGNANCY, RECREATING MOTHERHOOD, THE BOOK OF LIFE, and WEAVING A FAMILY.

Austin Dacey: Pyschology Today

Austin Dacey, who addressed the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on March 8, 2009, now has a blog on Psychology Today. His first blog entry is here.

Platform Video: The Right to Blaspheme

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 8, 2009, by Matt Cherry (introduced by Ken Karp):

Matt Cherry: The Right to Blaspheme from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Why does an atheist work at the UN to defend the human right to freedom of religion or belief and does this right protect humanists and atheists? Cherry will also highlight IHEU's current campaign against efforts to have the UN outlaw "defamation of religion" which would amount to a global blasphemy law.

Matt Cherry is IHEU International Representative and leads the IHEU delegation to the United Nations headquarters in New York. He has served two terms as president of the UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, where he is now vice president. Over the past two decades Matt Cherry has played a leading role in humanist groups in Britain, the Netherlands, and the USA, including five years as executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism and eight years as executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies. He has co-authored books on secular parenting and humanism in business.

Help for that Elevator Speech

One of the biggest challenges I often have is explaining to others what my 'religion' is. Even though I personally don't think of Humanism as a religion per se, many others do and anyway, it is an accurate reflection of my world view when it comes to the question 'what do you believe?"

As Dr. Chuman the leader of ECS of BC often states, it's not that we are non-believers, Humanists have many beliefs and values. It is however, not as well immediately understood as saying 'I am Jewish' or 'I am a Christian.' Dale McGowen in the recent workshop Parenting Beyond Belief at the Ethical Culture Society suggested as a way of interfacing with a religious world one should have and practice an 'elevator speech.' An 'elevator speech' is a quick an efficient way of representing ourself so as not to be left stumbling for the explanation.

In November I'll be participating in a two night Adult Education program, "Introduction to Humanism and Ethical Culture." I hope to understand more comprehensively the tradition of Ethical Culture and secular humanism so that I can really have a slamming 'elevator speech!' Check it out on the ethicalfocus.org website. Learn what it means to call yourself a humanist!

Platform Video: Idealism, Pragmatism and Politics

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, November 1, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Idealism, Pragmatism and Politics from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

President Obama is a pragmatist “in the colloquial meaning of the word,” says Dr. Chuman. “There are certainly benefits to being a pragmatist. But as a product of a more idealistic age, I can’t help but wonder whether something is lost as well.” Joe will explore these issues further in his Platform address.

Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County.

Dale McGowen, Parenting Beyond Belief

On Saturday morning, October 17th I did something I never do. I got my butt out of bed to pay money to see a person speak about childrearing issues. In the interest of full disclose I was also the accidental organizer of this event. Without going into the less than interesting details of that arrangement, I also knew this would be something I'd enjoy. It was, as it turns out, very important in the development of a free thinking tradition I hope to instill in my family.

The workshop stimulated so much thinking on my part, I was sad when I realized these stirrings would go ungratified. I wanted to talk more about it but there was a lot of ground to cover and limitations in time. I became aware of the struggle I feel at times as a parent. It's not a terribly dramatic struggle, its rather, the quiet questions and moments of uncertainty that come along with the territory of raising children. These moments we touched upon in the seminar, were the big moments, the big questions, the important ones that you want to get right because you know how it important it is in the development of our little sentient beings. "Mommy do we believe in God?" "Mommy, what happened to Great Grandma? Will she come back?" "Mommy, Esther says you will go to hell because you have a tattoo!"

I really understood from this seminar that the orientation to humanism and free thinking has got to be treated like a work in progress. McGowen gives great resources to help with this endeavor. I'm planning on getting a fascinating book he recommended about creation stories from many of the major religions and great civilizations to begin the dialogue with my children about religion and the recognition I hope to instill that there is not one way to think.

Healthcare reform panel

FOR: Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County and Bergen Grassroots

FROM: Eisenman-Todd / CONTACT: Paul Eisenman 201-692-9600

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bergen County—There are many proposals for health care reform afloat these days—Senate and House committees alone have at least five—and two respected area physicians with varying views will discuss elements of their approaches at a forum on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7pm. The site is the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County Meeting Hall, 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck. The doors open at 6:45, the forum begins at 7pm and is scheduled to conclude at 9pm.

Ethical Culture and Bergen Grassroots, a good government reform group, are co-sponsoring the meeting. It features two physicians who have debated the health care reform issue numerous times throughout the greater NYC metropolitan area. Both have decades of medical practice experience and have been published numerous times.

Dr. Oliver Fein, a practicing general internist with experience in health policy, is President of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and Chair of its New York Metro Chapter. This nationwide organization supports a Medicare-for-All (single-payer) system as the most efficient and economical form of health care reform. Among other things, Dr. Fein is currently Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Public Health and Associate Dean at the Weill Cornell Medical College.

Richard H. Bernstein, MD, FACP is a medical director at the Visiting Nursing Service of New York and has been practicing general internal medicine for thirty years. Dr. Bernstein is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Community and Preventive Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Joe Chuman, leader of the countywide Ethical Culture Society branch, will moderate the debate.

The physicians will flip a coin to determine who goes first. Each will have 20 minutes to present his reform position and each will have 5 minutes of response after the other’s presentation. The floor will then be thrown open for questions.

Bergen Grassroots, founded in 2005, meets regularly and publicly on the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the ECS auditorium. According to its statement of policy, Bergen Grassroots is a political activist group whose members include Republican and Democratic Party members as well as independents. Bergen Grassroots supports candidates for office, sponsors forums like this one to educate the public on political and social issues, engages people in the political process, and seeks to inform lawmakers and other officials at every level of government of its policies and platform.
The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, a welcoming humanist community and its Sunday School, meet at 11a.m. on Sundays at 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck. For more information, call 201 836-5187 or visit www.EthicalFocus.org.

Platform Video: Raising Freethinkers

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, October 18, 2009, by Dale McGowan (introduced by Dr. Joseph Chuman):

Dale McGowan: Raising Freethinkers from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Much is rightly made of raising children who are compassionate, intelligent, moral, and well-adjusted. But too often, these values are placed in opposition to raising independent thinkers. Allow them to think for themselves, goes the reasoning, and our children just might think their way into immorality and self-indulgent chaos.

Dale McGowan argues that this is one of several areas in which we often work counter to our own intentions, and that parents who raise independent thinkers are actually more likely to end up with compassionate, intelligent, moral, and well-adjusted kids.

McGowan edited and co-authored Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers and serves as executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief, a new humanist charitable and educational foundation. In 2008, he was named Humanist of the Year by the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University.

Dale holds degrees in physical anthropology and music theory from UC Berkeley as well as a Ph.D. in music composition and theory from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife Becca, a first grade teacher, live near Atlanta with their three kids—Delaney (7), Erin (11), and Connor (14).

Platform Video: Reflections on the Lunatic Fringe

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, October 4, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

Dr. Joseph Chuman: Reflections on the Lunatic Fringe (10/4/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

The fracas over health care reform has brought to political life an irrationality that is very disturbing. But it is not new to American history. How are we to explain views that are not only extreme but are disconnected from fact? This address will provide some possible responses.

My Ethical Culture: Theresa Forsman

How does Ethical Culture show up in my day-to-day life? Two ways.

First, it is a great relief, day in and day out, to belong to a community that, in the big picture, shares my values, a great relief to be part of a community that “gets it” in a way that I do. I wasn’t looking for a religion, I wasn’t looking for an organization, when I walked in the door here for the first time. I had seen a little calendar item in the newspaper describing what seemed like a fascinating talk. That talk happened to be at a place called the Ethical Culture Society. So I got myself over here. The talk was, indeed, fascinating. And in the question/answer session after the talk, in comments people made, I realized that here was a group of people who saw the world more or less as I did. I hadn’t known that my particular values had a name: Ethical Culture. Finding that out was a great comfort back then, and now—15 years later—it’s a comfort still.

The second way that Ethical Culture shows up in my day-to-day life is that people here help me walk the walk. Examples set by people in this Ethical Culture Society make it easier for me to put into practice the theory that every human being is worthy of dignity and respect and that by providing this dignity and respect I am thereby elevating my own.

I am very clear on the worth and dignity of each person as a theory, as a belief, but as a practice? Well, that’s much less easy…I am much less clear about putting the theory into practice.

In the daily slog it’s often easier NOT to appreciate the value of each person and to treat him or her accordingly. What helps me do the right thing, more often than I would otherwise, are the examples set by many individuals here. In ways big and small, people here with plenty of responsibilities, plenty of demands on their time—in short, plenty of rational reasons for NOT stepping up and doing the right thing—step up and do the right thing.

I won’t name names, because I would never be able to cover all the good examples that I have learned from and because I don’t want to risk embarrassing anyone. I’ve witnessed many comments and deeds by people in our Society that have shown me how to be when I’m out there in nitty-gritty life and wondering whether I can summon the wherewithal to do the right thing, the Ethical Culture thing. I’ll take this opportunity to say: Thank you for that. My actions don’t always match my Ethical Culture philosophy, but they match more often because of what I’ve heard and seen in you.

Theresa Forsman
September 27, 2009

Platfofrm Video: Reclaiming Ethical Culture Spirituality

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, September 27, 2009, by Anne Klaeysen (introduced by Deb Watsky):

Anne Klaeysen: Reclaiming Ethical Culture Spirituality (9/27/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Ethical Culture founder Felix Adler frequently used the language of spirituality: for example, “holy,” “sacred,” “divine” and “soul.” He told us to “conceive of progress spiritually.” Yet over the years, we have become uncomfortable with this language, ceding it too readily to traditional theistic communities, cautious of what supernatural visions we may be conjuring. “What a loss!” says Leader Anne Klaeysen, who will address us on the necessity of developing authentic Ethical Culture spiritual practices.



Introduction by Deb Watsky

HumanLight 2009

Humanists of all stripes will be interested in the nascent HumanLight celebration. Remember Christmas, Hannukah or Davali from your childhood? Looking for a non-theistic supplement to those supernatural-linked celebrations? The 2009 HumanLight holiday will be on December 23. Join the humanists in seasonal celebration!

Visit the HumanLight website or watch this YouTube video:

Platform Video: The Establishment Clause: Church and State in the 21st Century

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, September 20, 2009, by Derek Araujo (introduced by Ken Karp):

George W. Bush transformed the composition of the federal courts through eight years of judicial appointments. The judges he appointed have wrought striking changes in the law, including Establishment Clause jurisprudence. In light of these changes, protectors of the wall of separation between church and state must reexamine their strategic approach to defending our secular democracy.

Derek Araujo: The Establishment Clause in Exile - Church and State in the 21st Century (9/20/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Nation relives a more troubling aspect of its past

An article by the Leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, Dr. Joseph Chuman, was published in today's print and online editions of The Record. In it, Chuman draws parallels between the "suspicious discontent" described by historian Richard Hofstadter in his 1964 essay "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" and the town hall charades of today's vocal opponents of health care reform. (See page A-11 of the September 19 Record, or click here for the online version).

"[I]f we wish to see civility restored to our political discourse", Chuman concludes, "we need to sustain a sturdy faith in reason — supported by the facts — as the governor of public life."

Dr. Chuman will present a full-length address teasingly titled "Reflections on the Lunatic Fringe" on October 4, 2009, at the Ethical Culture Meeting House in Teaneck, NJ.

Platform Video: Ethical Culture's Distinctive Voice

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, September 13, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman (introduced by Ed Gross):

For the last twelve months we have been visited by an unprecedented number of newcomers. Clearly people are attracted not only by the warmth of our community but by what we stand for. But what do we stand for? Dr. Chuman reflects on the ideas and values that make up Ethical Culture’s “distinctive voice.”

Dr. Joseph Chuman: Ethical Culture's Distinctive Voice (9/13/2009) from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

For the last twelve months we have been visited by an unprecedented number of newcomers. Clearly people are attracted not only by the warmth of our community but by what we stand for. But what do we stand for? Dr. Chuman reflects on the ideas and values that make up Ethical Culture’s “distinctive voice.”

Phyllis Ehrenfeld, 76: Sep. 13 memorial service

A Memorial Service will be held for Phyllis Ehrenfeld Sunday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m. at The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, 687 Larch Ave., Teaneck (201-836-5187).

In 2004, Phyllis and her husband Sylvain helped found the Bergen County Chapter of the UNA-USA. Phyllis served as President since its inception. During this time, the chapter held five major events in Bergen County on important global issues, emphasizing human rights and international cooperation throughout the United Nations. These events were well received by the public.

Phyllis was also the President of the National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union (AEU) and was its representative to the UN.

Phyllis was born on September 28, 1932 and passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. Phyllis and Sylvain have been members of The Ethical Culture Society for over 30 years.

Related links:

• Obituary: Musings In Obama's America
• Memorial Service announcement: Teaneck Suburbanite
  

Bergen Record: Atheists Use Billboard to Preach Their Message

Page A-15 of today's Bergen Record print edition (THU, 8/20/09) covers the latest salvo in the billboard wars (the article is also online here). The setting this time is South Florida. Bergen County residents may recognize the phrase "Don't believe in God? You're NOT alone!" from the billboard that appeared on the NJ Turnpike at the beginning of 2008 (article).

The Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists (FLASH) sponsored the billboard. Included on their webpage is a video from the local South Florida FoxNews affiliate covering impact to the local community (video is about halfway down the page).

FreethoughtAction founder, Jan Meshon, has appeared twice at the Bergen Society. A video of his May 17, 2009, appearance is here.

Herta A. Bodansky, 88

Long time Ethical Culture member Herta Bodansky passed away on July 19, 2009. Read her obituary here (search for "herta").

Differences between UU (Unitarian Universalism) and Ethical Culture

This illuminating article was written by Jone Johnson Lewis, Leader of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society (NOVES). Jone is also an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister.

The Transition Moment

In a Christian Science Monitor article on the ABC News website, author and educator Dale McGowan is quoted as follows:

"This is the transition moment right now. Some groups are really diving in [to foster a robust sense of community], and some of them are holding their noses and standing on the diving board. They're not quite sure what to do."

He is referring to the growth of self-organized groups of non-believers in the U.S. Increasingly, according to the article's author G. Jeffrey MacDonald, such groups are coming together to bond and create communities. Tom Hoeppner, Membership Chair of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago (sister of the Bergen Ethical Society) describes the benefits some non-theists find in ritual: "... you build up not just common intellectual values, but the emotional and personal connection with people."

McGowan will be offering a half-day workshop Parenting Beyond Belief at the Bergen Society on October 17, 2009. More information and access to tickets can be found in this brochure.

The words of God do not justify cruelty to women: Jimmy Carter leaves Southern Baptist Convention

Former president Jimmy Carter reflects on his decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention:

"I have been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief - confirmed in the holy scriptures - that we are all equal in the eyes of God."

Read Carter's entire editorial as published in The Observer on July 12, 2009, and reposted on the Carter Center website.

NY Times' The Questioning of Judge Sotomayor : Dr. Chuman Letter to Editor

A letter written to the NY Times by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, was published in the July 18 print edition. The letter can be found here (search for "Chuman").

Secular Coalition for America: The Beat Goes On

The labors of the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), which advocates in Washington for non-theistic issues, continue to bear fruit. Consider the following:

• The Nation: Rediscovering Secular America (including an early connection made by the SCA with then Senator Obama)
  
• Freethought Radio interviews new SCA Executive Director Sean Faircloth (click on the archive for June 27, 2009, and fast forward to 18min 17sec)
• Nevada Public Radio interviews SCA Founding Director Emeritus Lori Lipman Brown (look for Lori's name and click on Listen or Download MP3; Lori spoke at the Bergen Society in September, 2008)

The American Ethical Union (AEU), which is among the coalition's ten non-theistic organizations, hosted the SCA board at the recent AEU Assembly in St. Louis.

Vietnam voices: Arthur Dobrin

Arthur Dobrin, Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, is featured in this Newsday article on the summer of 1969. Dr. Dobrin is the author of many books and articles, most recently Spelling GOD with Two O's. He is scheduled to speak at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on September 27, 2009.

Newsweek: Massimo Pigliucci

Dr. Massimo Pigliucci, who spoke at the Bergen Society in January 2009 on the topic of What's Science Got To Do With It?: When Scientists Talk Nonsense About Religion, is quoted in the June 29 issue of Newsweek. The article, titled Can We Blame Our Behavior on Stone-Age Genes, expresses scientific views that attempt to debunk some of the more outlandish claims of evolutionary psychology, including that of the "rape gene", which claims that rape persists in modern society due in part to the success of men 100,000 year ago who increased their offspring through forced sexual intercourse.

Dr. Pigliucci is quoted as saying "Evolutionary stories of human behavior make for a good narrative, but not good science." Biological change is guided by the environment, including social and cultural factors. If that environment is dynamic, as it is for humans, then behavior will adapt accordingly. Thus, whether or not rape was a successful breeding strategy in our evolutionary past does not necessarily come to bear on today's behavior.

The French'ical Culture Society of Bergen County

That's right, the French'ical Culture Society.

A film crew from the French television channel Canalplus included almost a minute and a half of the May 24 Platform in the June 7, 2009, edition of their weekly magazine show L'Effet Papillon with Victor Robert. That day's Platform topic was Child Survivors of the Holocaust, a panel facilitated by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader of the Society. Joe Chuman (incorrectly identified as "President, Ethical Society" in the snapshot to the right) was interviewed on camera, as was a Sunday school teacher ("Professeur de Catechisme Humaniste").

Follow these steps to view The ECS/Bergen portion of the video:

1. Click on this link
2. Grab the slider to move ahead to about 6m 55s (or watch the whole segment)
   
3. Enjoy (the ECS part is about 1m 30s and can be viewed in fullscreen mode)
   

Dust off your French!


(The following instructions as posted in June, 2009, no longer work because the video was removed from its original location. They are retained for historical completeness):

Follow these steps to view The ECS/Bergen portion of the video:

1. Click on this link
2. Scroll down to the section titled "Les Prochaines Emissions"
3. Click on the picture beneath "Emission du 07-06-2009" (June 7)
   
4. The show begins after a 15 second commercial. Grab the slider to move ahead to about 17m 36s (or watch the whole show)
   
5. Enjoy (the ECS part is about 1m 30s and can be viewed in fullscreen mode)
   

Dust off your French!

Platform Video: The Rise of Poetic Atheism

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 31, 2009, by Jennifer Michael Hecht (introduced by Ken Karp):

Jennifer Michael Hecht: The Triumph of Poetic Atheism from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Platform Video: Child Survivors of the Holocaust

The following ECS/Bergen Platform took place on Sunday, May 17, 2009, and featured Carl Hausman, Goldy Hess, Evelyn Ripp, with moderation from Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader:

Child Survivors of the Holocaust from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Parents gather to nurture nonbelief

As the number of non-believers continues to rise, the needs of non-believing parents do, too. A group of families in Raleigh-Durham, NC, have formed a congregation called Parenting Beyond Belief (Parents Gather to Nurture Nonbelief), named after the eponymous 2007 book. These parents, like parents everywhere, feel the need to come together to raise and nurture their children in a community of like-minded people.

An article from the book Parenting Beyond Belief will be the subject of an August 30 Summer Platform; Dale McGowan, author of the book, will conduct a Parenting Beyond Belief seminar on October 17; and deliver a Platform on October 18. All three events will take place at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. The seminar will also be given on November 7 at the Religious Education Conference and Family Weekend of the American Ethical Union in Stony Point, NY.

Carl Schlesinger: Tap Dance Hero

ECS/Bergen member Carl Schlesinger is featured in today's Bergen Record (Rutherford dancer, 83, is a tap hero). As much as Carl talks about his career in the printing industry, who knew he was a tap dance hero?

Platform Video: Reaching the Tipping Point: Why I’m Optimistic About the Next 20 Years

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 17, 2009, by Jan Meshon of FreeThoughtAction (introduced by Ken Karp):

Jan Meshon, FreeThoughtAction : Reaching the Tipping Point from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Platform Video: The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 10, 2009, by Dr. Richard W. Bulliett, (introduced by Azar Gordon):

Professor Richard W. Bulliet: The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

My Ethical Culture: Diane Koszarski

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, May3, 2009:

I believe a congregational framework is essential for the expression of our humanist values.

I suppose a humanist with great discipline might engage in worthy social action, ongoing philosophical study and the improvement of interpersonal relationships, all on their own hook – me, I need group support.

I enjoyed seeing the recent New York Times article, “Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops” which covered the formation of a new humanist group in North Carolina. But then I read through the online reader responses – so many, self-identified as atheists, were extremely dubious about the possibility of a group approach. ..

very “Don’t Tread on Me”! in their attitude.

Their reactions made me particularly grateful to have a thriving humanist congregation at hand in which I can participate and from which I can benefit.

For example: I am not a natural student of philosophy, but through

our Platforms, the occasional classes, even coffee-hour discussions, I can take confidence in Ethical Culture’s respectable intellectual pedigree, and get help in fine-tuning my own understandings.

Again, although I believe in our duty to help the less fortunate, I am not a natural front-line activist. But through the outreach projects sponsored by this congregation, there are endless opportunities to make contributions toward the social good.

Finally, in a smallish group like ours, there are so many ways to support the smooth functioning of our community, there is a venue for every talent. Not ready to lead the Finance Committee? Volunteer for coffee next Sunday! I truly believe it is this “behind the scenes” work that leads to our most rewarding connections and friendships.

Those are just three of the ways a congregational approach helps me be a better humanist.

As we support each other in our growth as humanists, as fellow members of a congregation, we create a very special validation of humanism. Our group is a demonstration to the world that humanism is a viable spiritual choice in this day and age. Welcome to the Ethical Culture Society, a humanist congregation.

Platform Video: Liberty and the Inquiring Mind

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, May 3, 2009, by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader (introduced by Ed Gross, President):

Dr. Joseph Chuman: Liberty and the Inquiring Mind from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

NY Times: Defecting to Faith

NY Times Op-Ed columnist Charles Blow points out in this article that many people seem to need "spiritualism" even if it encompasses merely (nontheistic) transcendence from everyday life. Many who are raised outside of traditional religion gravitate to it, but not because of dogma. Rather, it is the sense of community that draws them in. Put another way, it is the pomp, potlucks and picnics that people need, not the father, the son or the holy ghost.
Dale McGowan, who will be offering a Parenting Beyond Belief seminar and a Platform at the Bergen Society in October, is quoted in the article.

Dr. Joseph Chuman: United Nations Resolution "Lamentable and Tragic"

The Bergen Record has published this letter to the editor (click, then scroll down) from Leader Dr. Joseph Chuman in their April 27, 2009, edition. The letter is in response to Paula Schriefer's "Insidious threat to freedom of expression", which addresses the recent resolution of the U.N. Human Rights Council limiting criticism of religion.

NY Times: More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

See this NY Times article that appeared on page A1 of the April 27, 2009, print edition. The brainchild behind the "Don't Believe in God? You are Not Alone" billboard that triggered the South Carolina movement is Jan Meson of Freethought Action. Jan will address the Bergen Society on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 11:00AM.

The article was the Times' number 2 most emailed article for a time, and attracted thousands of comments, including this by our own member Terri Karp.

Dr. Anne Klaeyson, Leader of the New York Society for Ethical Culture and Humanist Chaplain at Adelphi University, submitted this letter to the NY Times editor.

Helping to Drill Wells in Burkina Faso

This is from my brother Adam (I heartily endorse this effort as well!!):

Greetings Family and Friends,

I have been donating time recently to help a non-profit organization write a business plan to present to individuals and companies to help raise seed money. The organization is called the BARKA Foundation and their main goal is to dig water wells in a small country in Africa called Burkina Faso, which is among the world's most impoverished nations. Although there is ample water underground, they have no means to access it and must walk for miles everyday and then carry water in jugs. This water is often polluted, and causes illness. If they didn't have to spend most of their day hauling water, they might engage in more productive pursuits such as school and work, thereby improving their situation.This small non-profit was started by a college classmate of mine, who was once a television producer. He has since changed his name, and dedicated his life to improving the lives of these people. He hopes to build on his previous experiences and expertise by producing documentary films and staging concerts to earn income for the foundation to use to achieve its goals.The BARKA Foundation will be sponsoring a very interesting event in May, called the "Peace, Water, and Wisdom Walk" where people will walk from the Burkina Mission to the UN in New York City, to Bangor, Maine for a total of 500 miles. The purpose of the walk is to raise money to drill wells and awareness of the situation. Along the way, they will stop to conduct educational events with school children who are also helping to raise funds. If you have any questions or comments, please go to the links highlighted above or contact adam.ruderman@yahoo.com If you are able to help with a donation, would like to join them for a portion of the walk, or if you would like to involve your children's school in the effort, that would be great!
Thanks,
Adam

Platform Video: Visiting Nurse Service & Ethical Culture

The following ECS/Bergen Platform address was delivered on Sunday, April 26, 2009, by Dr. Richard Bernstein (introduced by Dr. Joseph Chuman, Leader):


Dr. Richard Bernstein: Visiting Nurse Service & Ethical Culture from Ethical Culture Society Bergen on Vimeo.

Puffin: Steven Hecht shows his Art

Steven Hecht, who is a member of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, also collects art, including WPA (Works Progress Administration) art of the 1930s. Steve says that more than 40 pieces of his collection will go on display at the Puffin Forum for two months beginning this Saturday. There will be an opening reception on Saturday at Puffin at 7:00 pm. It’s free. It would be great if our fellow Ethical members and friends would drop in! If you can’t make it this Saturday, Steve says the show will be up for the next two months, so stop by and see it.

The Puffin Forum is located at 20 Puffin Way, just off Teaneck Road. If you’re headed south on Teaneck Road, you’ll pass Holy Name Hospital and Thomas Jefferson Middle School. You will see two gas stations--an Exxon on your right and an Enrite gas station on your left. Make the left onto Puffin Way (formerly East Oakdene Ave.) immediately after the Enrite station. The Puffin parking lot is at the bottom of the hill on the right. (If you are headed north on Teaneck Road, look for the Enrite station – Puffin Way is the first real street on your right.)

Here’s a link to the April event listings at Puffin: http://www.puffinfoundation.org/forum/forum_new/calendar/April.html

Saturday, April 25, 7:00 p.m.
ART OPENING: Still Current:
WPA Art of the 1930s
Much like the severe global financial environment of today, the 1930s were a time of harsh economic duress throughout the world. On the evening of April 25th the Puffin Gallery will have an opening of original Works Progress Administration art works from the collection of Teaneck resident Steven Hecht. The show consists primarily of artists who worked for the WPA and depicts many themes that are germane to the current uncertain economic climate. President Obama’s recent stimulus plan to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure is eerily reminiscent in these evocative works from 75 years ago. Lithographs, water colors, wood blocks show men pouring steel, repairing rails, as well as farm scenes, carnivals, oil wells, nudes, and abstractions from another time that has direct lineage to today’s world.
Curated by Steven Hecht and Marc Lambert.

Free and open to the public.

Linda

Rational Sunday School

Rational, humanist, critical thinking, freethinking ... use whatever adjectives you want. Demand for Sunday schools for the children of nonbelievers continues to grow.

This article in The Humanist magazine mentions examples of such Sunday schools in Portland (OR), Long Island (a shout out to our Ethical Culture friend Sharon Stanley!), Albuquerque, Palo Alto, Chicago (also an Ethical Culture group) and Harvard University. Add to these our own Sunday school at ECS/Bergen, as well as others within the Ethical Culture community, and you have a movement.

Ethical Culture Societies have been conducting Sunday schools for 130+ years. It's about time the rest of the world has caught on.

This I Believe: Janet Glass

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, April 19, 2009:

I believe in natural burial. By natural burial I mean that we stop cutting down trees to make coffins, that we refrain from destroying rock face to make headstones, and that we don’t poison the earth with the formaldehyde in embalming fluid. Natural burial means we don’t contaminate the air with mercury that results from cremation. Cremation also consumes energy and doesn’t replenish the land. In my idea of natural cemeteries we don’t create gardens that require the use of pesticides and herbicides, and we certainly don’t mine the land for mausoleums of marble and granite. Just put my body in the ground to decompose, let the nutrients nourish the earth for the plants that sustain wild animals. I love the idea of providing habitat for wildlife by my death. The way we organize ourselves in cemeteries now is by religious groups, families, municipalities, and military service. Not by habitat preservation. At least, not yet. In order to sustain eagles, bears and other animals which need a wide range to survive, we need large tracts of land. If I want to plant myself to save habitat, a natural section in a conventional cemetery won’t provide enough land. So, in order for this to work, I need lots of company. A few years ago I looked around for natural cemeteries like one I had imagined, and bought a plot near Ithaca, New York. At that time there were only three like this in the country.

So why do I like to imagine my body helping to nourish a bush which might provide some berries for a squirrel which could feed an eagle? I feel related to all of it and, at heart, I think we all do. Last weekend I was at the computer when I noticed that a mourning dove had landed on the fire escape very close to my bedroom window. I felt my heart actually flutter a little bit and I watched its movements, riveted until it flew away. What is that connection about? And it’s not just me. Babies are always drawn to the sight of an animal, and the elderly are soothed by stroking a dog or cat. Our instinctive connection to animals seems to be hard-wired, yet we’ve betrayed them in so many ways. We have cut ourselves off from their pain in factory-farming, laboratory experiments, circus life, military uses and habitat destruction. In my own life, I haven’t been able to rid myself of animal products successfully enough and, as a culture, we’re still working out how to coexist. But in my death, I might help a bit to restore the balance. Laws still protect burial grounds as sacred. We could make them even more sacred by giving some of the earth back to the other beings among us. As green awareness become more trendy, maybe it’s a chance at collective redemption for the animal suffering we’ve caused. I believe in natural burial as habitat restoration. Let’s push up some daisies. This I believe.

Top G.O.P. Consultant Endorses Gay Marriage

When it matters to you, you're willing to do something about it. Perhaps this was going through the mind of Steve Schmidt, former senior consultant for the 2008 McCain presidential campaign, when he endorsed gay marriage last month. He reiterated that endorsement yesterday in an address to the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that supports gay rights.

And why does it matter to him? Presumably because his sister is lesbian. Dick Cheney, where are you?

Check out the NY Times coverage.

Darwin Day Family Festival: Revisited

Did you miss the Darwin Day Family Festival that took place at the New York Society of Ethical Culture on February 7, 2009? The event celebrated the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, Origin of Species.

You can listen to much of the proceedings on Scientific American's Science Talk podcast hosted by Steve Mersky (Scientific American's editor-in-chief, John Rennie, was one of the speakers). The podcast is in three parts: part 1, part 2, part 3. Full transcripts of the podcast are also available.

Newsweek: The End of Christian America

And yet another article on the the shifting religious landscape in America. This time it's Newsweek.

PRESS RELEASE: Mixolydian Band Welcomes Spring with Brass Music

Professional musicians who include a brother-and-sister team will be a musical highlight at The Ethical Culture Society in Teaneck in the month of May. On Sunday afternoon, May 3, at 2:00 p.m., William Teubner (trumpet) and his sister, Joann Teubner-Prussak (keyboards) and their group, Mixolydian, will perform a program of classical music from different periods and composers.

This program will feature a brass quintet of two trumpets, a trombone, a french horn, and a bass, accompanied by Ms.Teubner-Prussak. Also included in the program are pieces for trumpet solo and piano solo.

Mr. Teubner is a graduate of The Juilliard School with study at The Paris Conservatory. He is a professional musician who has performed in orchestras around the world. Ms. Teubner-Prussak is a graduate of The Mannes School of Music, having studied privately with masters of the organ and piano. In New Jersey she is the music director of the Summit United Methodist Church. She is also a conductor of choral groups in the tristate area.

Wine and cheese will be offered for refreshment as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Call The Society for more information about this event.

The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, a welcoming community and its Sunday School meet at 11a.m. on Sundays at 687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck. For more information, call 201 836-5187 or visit www.EthicalFocus.org.

This I Believe: Leigh Roumila

As delivered to the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, March 29, 2009:

THIS I BELIEVE – by Leigh Roumila - January 18, 2009

Narrowing my beliefs down to one single sentence was the hardest part of getting this essay started. At first, it seemed overwhelming because I believe in so many things. But then it hit me. What makes me tear up, what gives me goosebumps, what gives me courage and makes me do things I really really don’t want to do, what supports me when I take the path less chosen, what inspires me and makes me proud to be part of the human race, what leaves me totally awestruck… is the ONE thing I completely believe in.

And that is the POWER OF LOVE.

And of course, I’m not talking about the idea of love that is perpetuated by popular culture, the romantic gimmick that true love is only available to the young and beautiful, that IT finds US and when it does, must, by definition, sweep us off our feet. No I’m talking about the love that lives much deeper. The love that is always right there just beneath the surface, the one we make room for when we overcome our fears and judgments and just forgive ourselves and the others in our life

This love is bigger than us individually; it is a community product that we all together create, sustain and can tap into at any time. Many in this world attribute it to Jesus, or some other spiritual master, and that is what gives those religious beliefs their power, but it is just as available to humanists. It is the glue that connects us to each other and to the world around us and it is behind the golden rule that Ethical Culture embraces: do onto others as you would have them do onto you.

This love causes miracles. Scientists have proven that baby monkies can be given enough food, water and shelter, but still die because they are not held and loved, and as Ellen McGrath points out in an article in Psychology Today, Love is as critical for your mind and body as oxygen. It's not negotiable. The more connected you are, the healthier you will be both physically and emotionally. The less connected you are, the more you are at risk.

I have found that one of the things that makes LOVE so powerful is how often it shows up unexpectedly and completely changes the anticipated outcome. Because of the results love produces, it IS breathtaking, it does have the power to sweep us off our feet.

When I was 29, after 32 weeks of a seemingly perfect pregnancy, I learned that the baby girl within me had died and that I was going to have to “give birth” in order to get her out of my body. My doctors advised that I go into birth spontaneously so as to reduce the risk of complications. So for two weeks I waited, for two weeks I grieved. Finally, unable to endure another moment, I called the hospital and told them to have a bed ready for me. I was coming in and was going to end this nightmare, no matter what. To make a long story short, after about 12 hours of on and off labor, I succeeded in pushing out my dead child. But what happened in that private room was completely unexpected. For the first time in two weeks, there was no sadness. There was no grief. There was no fear. There was only love. The nurse practitioner that had been assigned to me and had stayed with me for most of the night and into the early morning hours, completely opened her heart to whatever happened and in doing so allowed me to open myself in every way, to the power of a mother’s love. Between me, the baby, and this amazing other human being, the love in that room was palatable. And with it came waves of appreciation for the humbling power of the human experience, no matter the outcome.

And now many years later, dissecting that experience, I can see that that great sense of connection came about in large part because of the nurse’s complete focus on another person, her pure intention to be of service to me, her willingness to accept more than one reality, and her determination to ignore those inner voices saying she wasn’t up to the challenge. I left that room a much different person. I bet that nurse practitioner did so as well.

In short, I believe there are only two true emotions experienced by humans. One is fear, and the other is love. Everything else is just a version of one or the other. And as Jimi Hendrix said,

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

This I believe.

NYSEC Advocacy Forum: Obama and the Future of the Imperial Presidency

Here is coverage of last night's NYSEC Advocacy Forum with panelists Elizabeth Holtzman, Lewis Lapham, and Michael Ratner and moderator Joseph Chuman. Joe is Leader of the Bergen Society and part-time Leader of the New York Society.

The video coverage in the above link is from Press TV, an Iranian news agency.

WSJ: Obama Walks Religious Tightrope Spanning Faithful, Nonbelievers

Yet another article covering the president's outreach to nonbelievers, this time in the Wall Street Journal. Of interest is the description of Obama's balancing act: policy changes to satisfy nonbelievers; and personal behavior, such his own use of prayer, to mollify the very religious.

USA Today: God-less 'congregations' planned for humanists

Interesting U.S.A Today article.

US News & World Report: Leaving Religion Behind: A Portrait of Nonreligious America

Nonreligious Americans represent the fastest-growing part of the nation's religious landscape

Is this a trend? This time the article is in US News & World Report.

Freethinkers sense nation near cultural shift

Ethical Culture continues to reap the benefits of rising national and local interest in humanism. This is evidenced most recently by The Bergen Record article of Thursday (3/12/08), in which staff writer John Chadwick reports Freethinkers Sense Nation Near Cultural Shift (click for article).

As if to tie the local and national scenes together, EC Sunday school teacher Lisa Repasky is prominently mentioned, as is the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), the DC-based organization that lobbies exclusively on behalf of nontheists. The Bergen Society's national umbrella organization, the American Ethical Union (AEU) is a member of the SCA.

Such press exposure underscores the need for local and national organizations to work together in common cause. The Bergen Society focuses on local issues, and its Sunday school is youth and family-focused. The SCA, on the other hand, concentrates on national issues of fairness, and leaves local action to its coalition members. But the two groups benefit from each others' efforts. Verily, this is common cause in action.

UPDATED: The Godless Rise As A Political Force

"Secularist, humanist, freethinking nontheists and atheists are coalescing into a movement with a real agenda"

The title and subtitle of this blog entry are borrowed from the cover story of the March 7 issue of the National Journal (see The Godless Rise As A Political Force (PDF)). In it, Paul Starobin reports on the growing number of religiously unaffiliated Americans and the political movement that grows with them. Center stage is the Secular Coalition for America, of which the American Ethical Union (Ethical Culture's national organization) is a member. Regulars will recall that the SCA's former Director, Lori Lipman Brown, who is prominently mentioned, addressed the Bergen Society last September.

There is an opportunity for religious humanism, the Ethical Culture movement in particular, to rise with this political tide. Ours is perhaps the largest family-friendly organization of nontheists in America today. As adult "questioners" hear more about the larger national movement, it seems inevitable that some will seek a sympathetic setting for their children. Who they gonna call?

If they are lucky enough to live near one, they'll call the Ethical Culture Society (see local Societies). Here their children will be taught critical thinking and ethical behavior without the burden of dogmatic belief. We better be ready!

THIS JUST IN: See Paul Starobin discuss his article (click) with callers on C-Span (was broadcast on Sunday, March 8, 2009, at 9:30am ET). Fast forward to 1:31:30.

Teaneck Kids Help Ugandan Orphans

Susan Lesh, foreground, serves at the Third Annual Pasta Dinner.
A fundraiser for the Tororo Orphans Club in Uganda. Hosted by the Bergen County Ethical Culture Society Sunday School.

Teaneck, NJ (Feb. 28, 2009) - Uganda may be half a world away, but that was not too far for the Sunday School at the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. All of the kids – and lots of adults – raised over $1500 at a pasta dinner in Teaneck, NJ on Saturday, February 28, 2009, to help the Tororo Orphans Club, which provides a home for about 150 children who have lost their parents to AIDS.

The third annual dinner brought several Ugandan dignitaries and representatives to Teaneck for the event. Mr. Duncan Muhumuza from the Uganda Mission to the UN, helped attendees get to know more about his country, discussed the progress that has been made in dealing with the many challenges they face, and expressed his thanks for the caring and concern shown by the fundraising effort. Mr. Alon Katende, a former member Uganda National Soccer Team, spoke of how far the money raised would go in supporting the children's needs – clothing, education, health care, and a chance for a real childhood . Joe Chumann, Leader of the Bergen Ethical Culture Society, recalled his experiences when he visited the capital city, Kampala, and spoke of the courage he saw in children who often had to raise their young siblings alone.

The Sunday School children helped plan the event, and prepared the decorations and the food, which included five different kinds of pasta sauces. After enjoying the sauces they made, they all took part in activities with an African theme - mask making, mat weaving and Mancala (an African strategy game). Over 130 people attended the dinner, making it by far the most successful event so far.

Cheryl Paley, Artistic Director for the AIDS awareness group NiteStar, first brought the group to the attention of the Ethical Culture Society four years ago. She said that she has been asked how and why the Tororo Orphans' Club was chosen to receive the help, when there are so many others in need. Her simple answer was a great lesson for the Sunday School children: “Just pick someone and help them.”

Pictured from left to right; back row; Mr. Alon Katende former member Uganda National Soccer Team; Mr. Duncan Muhumuza from the Uganda Mission to the UN. front row: Joe Chuman, Leader of the Bergen County Ethical Culture Society; Dr. Muhumuza; Allison Cooke, Director or Religious Education; Evelyn Wolff, Chair of the Religious Education Committee.

Article Contributed by Eric Sandhusen & Lisa Repasky-Sandhusen
Photos provided by Gwenaël Calvez