Ethical Views June 2013 Vol. 127, No. 10 Newsletter of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia SUMMER SUNDAY MEETINGS Sunday, July 14, 2013, 10:00 AM ARE AT 10:00 AM, except August 11 Summer Edition Yoga, Humanism, and You! (see on next page) Hugh Taft-Morales, EHSoP Leader, and Jack Schwar, member J U N E Sunday, June 23, 2013, 10:00 AM The Language that is Music This dynamic duo will offer insights Sunday, June 2, 2013, 10:00 AM Rollin Wilbur, EHSoP Pianist into the benefits of yoga in a humanist Ethical Page-Turners context. They will share some of their Betsy Lightbourn, EHSoP Education How can we listen better to music’s experiences with yoga, lead some meanings? A musical seminar. Committee Chair breathing and meditation activities, and Ethical issues are often creatively facilitate some gentle yoga practice that Sunday, June 30, 2013, 10:00 AM explored through fiction, and sometimes you can do seated in your own chair. Ethical Culture Today! through genre page-turners; thrillers, Audience members can participate in historical novels, romances, and Hugh Taft-Morales, EHSoP Leader some or all of the program, or simply science fiction all offer good The American Ethical Union (AEU) reads (especially during vacations) observe. No pressure! For those doing often with ethical insights. Several hosts a national assembly each year for seated meditation, wear comfortable members will share their guilty many reasons. It generates constructive clothes. pleasures in this program. Join us and dialogue between member societies help set the mood for a day at the beach and the staff and board of the AEU so Sunday, July 21, 2013, 10:00 AM by bringing your beach towel, beach we can agree on strategy and budget Songs for the Dispossessed hat, sunglasses, sandals, and your priorities for the coming year. It Kate Esposito, Ethical Action own favorite “read” you would like to provides members with workshops Committee Chair recommend to others. to improve internal governance and Musical inspiration for listening and public ethical action projects. And it Sunday, June 9, 2013, 10:00 AM reflection. Picnic at Camp Linden offers all who attend opportunities to generate meaningful and personal (No meeting on Rittenhouse Square) Sunday, July 28, 2013, 10:00 AM inspiration to bring Ethical Humanism Join us for our annual community picnic A Colloquy: Compassion to the world. Having just attended this at Camp Linden! This informal gathering Hugh Taft-Morales, EHSoP Leader celebrates the end of our program year year’s conference in Fairfax, Virginia, and marks the start of summer when Leader Hugh Taft-Morales will share The colloquy format is designed to children from Philadelphia will come insights into the state of the Ethical stimulate thoughtful, meditative self- to the Brandywine Valley and learn Culture movement nationwide. reflection. Short readings, silence, and about nature, swim and enjoy the music encourage us to listen deeply, outdoors. Come to 1523 Camp Linden connect with our heart, and share. A Rd., West Chester, PA 19382. For more J U LY colloquy is not a debate, discussion, complete directions go to: http://www. or forum to offer advice to others, but phillyethics.org/cl-directions.plp. From Sunday, July 7, 2013, 10:00 AM rather a time to deepen our awareness. noon to 4:00 PM, but come as early The Sum of Me, by Catherine Rush, (Continued next page) and stay as late as you want. Duck race Philadelphia playwright; a dramatic and other fun activities for children. reading Page In This Issue $15 per person, $10 if you bring food. Children free. Bring your own dogs and Adult children gather on a remote 1-2 Summer Sunday Meetings hamburgers for grilling if you wish. mountain to bury their mother’s 2-3 Leader’s Message Grills will be going. remains. They still have more to learn 4 Happenings Sunday, June 16, 2013, 10:00 AM about her, and one another. 5 Announcements; Listserv Reflections on Fatherhood in the Arts 6 Unity Picnic Flyer EHSoP members do a dramatic reading Lyle Murley, Ph.D., EHSoP Member 7 Summer Calendar; Quote-Unquote; of one of the top plays from our 2012 Dr. Murley will explore the meaning of Memorial Note:Alton Lemon contest. To volunteer, contact Pat at fatherhood through images, music and 8 Summer Birthdays words. [email protected] Summer Sunday Meetings (Cont’d.) Work” evenings focusing on matters Leader’s Column constitutional, five “Democracy on Trial” forums, a four-part “Fun with A U G U S T Western Philosophy” class, special The Joy and evening talks and concerts co-sponsored Sunday, August 4, 2013, 10:00 AM Challenge with the Freethought Society, a Beacon A Colloquy: topic to be announced of Growth Theater play on Lincoln and Frederick Richard Kiniry, EHSoP Leader Douglass, and more. Obviously these Emeritus events have served our members and the local community as well. Reviews Sunday, August 11, 2013, 11:00 AM Hugh Taft-Morales were very positive. (Please note time change.) Over the past year the Ethical These events, however, demand much Robert G. Ingersoll and the Freethought Humanist Society of Philadelphia has from our staff, Movement in Philadelphia grown and signs are that it will continue volunteers and Tom Flynn, Director, Robert G. to grow. From June 2012 to May 2013, leadership. Not Ingersoll Birthplace Museum EHSoP has added 15 new members only are Dotti to our roster! A new cohort of young and Antuan asked This special presentation, on the adults are attending our functions and to handle many 180th birthday of Robert Ingersoll, is meeting as a group socially. Attendance details surrounding cosponsored with Freethought Society. at Sunday platforms has been high. New these events, but our volunteers are outside groups sharing our humanist huffing and puffing too! There is even A leading expert on Ingersoll and the commitment to social justice, including “audience fatigue.” Some of our more Freethought movement, Tom Flynn Delaware Valley Americans United active members apologize to me about is editor of Free Inquiry, Executive and new offshoots of Occupy Philly, having to miss an event. I reassure them Director of the Council for Secular are meeting regularly in our building, that this is OK: we can’t all be there for Humanism as well as director of along with longtime allies Amnesty all events. Sometimes we need to take the Robert G. Ingersoll Birthplace International and Pennsylvanians for a night off and refuel. Individuals and Museum. Alternatives to the Death Penalty. We the group can feel overwhelmed by our are bustling with activity and the energy own offerings. is good. So what’s not to like? Sunday, August 18, 2013, 10:00 AM How about growth in networking and Liberation Theology Well, when I went through collaboration? This too is a double- Ken Greiff, Member, EHSoP Board Leadership training with sided coin. On the one hand, it’s of Trustees the American Ethical wonderful to support various groups Union, the unit devoted to with staff time and free or low-cost use Sunday, August 25, 2013, 10:00 AM Congregational Develop- of our building space. 1906 Rittenhouse Book Discussion: Spirituality for the ment opened my eyes is a major resource that we should Skeptic, Robert C. Solomon to the challenges of growth. continue to leverage in service of our Hugh Taft-Morales, EHSoP Leader While every Ethical Society I know mission. But when many groups use is eager to grow, there is a consensus our building a couple of things happen. A conversation about spirituality amongst experts in “organizational First, it requires more hours of service from a humanist perspective. All are development” (or “OD” for those in by our administrative and custodial encouraged to read Spirituality for the biz) that growth can be one of the staff: more opening and closing, the Skeptic which though written by a hardest things to handle, especially vacuuming and cleaning, wear and philosopher is mercifully only 140 pages for small organizations with limited tear. Additionally, a crowded building long. Of course anyone can attend and resources. affects Dotti’s ability to rent our space participate having read the book or not. to paying clients who help us pay our Hugh will frame the discussion with Let’s begin with the challenges of bills. some insights into some of Solomon’s growth in program offerings. This most intriguing points. year our community benefited from And finally, what could possibly lots of educational and personal be problematic about growth in growth opportunities. There have been membership? Isn’t this the greatest Sunday, September 1: No meeting. Worldly Wisdom gatherings, a thing since sliced bread? I answer Fall Platforms begin Sept. 8, <> reading group of Ed Ericson’s The (Continued on next page) 2013. 11:00 AM. Humanist Way, six “Constitution at Growth (Cont’d. from previous page) core mission of the Ethical Humanist say, and the Ethical Humanist Society a definitive…“YES!!!” The energy, Society of Philadelphia, to cultivate of Philadelphia is no exception. Our ideas, and perspectives contributed by character guided by ethical principles Board and committees invite you all new members are fundamental to our and demonstrated in community to contribute your time and talent continued success as a force for Ethical engagement and behavior, we must in helping us grow in positive and Humanism in Philadelphia. There is adapt to changing social conditions and exciting ways. Those of you who no standing still. Without a growing, needs. The challenge of evolving with attended May’s membership meeting diverse membership, EHSoP would integrity is then this: how do we both heard from our committees: Education, shrink into a closed, inwardly focused stay true to general values of Ethical Community, Finance, Building, Ethical social club.