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A weekly newsletter to keep you informed.
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What's in this week's news?
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This past Sunday, WES hosted a Hands on Heart CPR class. WES coordinated with the DC Fire & EMS Department to put on the training. According to the DCFEMS website:
Most people who experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location die because they don't receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. As a bystander, your actions can only help.
DCFEMS offers free classes on the basics of hands-only CPR and AED awareness. The training instructs participants to focus on their hand placement, tempo and the number of compressions for two minute intervals.
Hands-only CPR is a technique that involves chest compressions without artificial respiration. Studies indicate that hands-only CPR performed immediately may increase a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival.
You can find out more information here: https://fems.dc.gov/page/hands-hearts-cpr-program |
 This past fall, WES hosted the annual Auction. There was a live auction that gave us Marty Kaufman and Tony Nam putting Old Bay Seasoning on everything! There was a photo booth with President Barack Obama. And we can't forget the amazing food prepared by the awesome team of chefs! Many of the events that are auctioned off are hosted by WES members sometimes in their homes and sometimes at different places around town.
This past weekend, one of the auction events was hosted a Mike Kravitz's home. Mike hosted five folks that signed up in the silent auction for a beer brewing class. Some of the attendees are seasoned beer brewers and others are just starting out on the craft beer adventure. WES member and class attendee Bryan Pashigian documented the class in photos.
The brew of the day was a Honey Kolsch, a light, crisp beer, perfect for spring. The new brewmasters took the 5-gallon batch from dry grain and hops to fermentor over the course of the afternoon, including milling the grains, the mashing process (steeping the grains in hot water), and the boil-where hops are added. At the end of the boil, local wildflower honey was added to the hot liquid, mixed in, and allowed to cool. Once at a lower temperature, a specialty beer yeast was added to get the fermentation under way. It was a great day of WES fellowship, story-telling, and a few gaffs along the way... The brew will be ready to drink in about two months, just in time for [actual] spring weather.
Are you hosting an auction event or attending one? Send us your story and photos so we can highlight the year-round fun that the auction brings to our community! Photos and stories can be sent to Robyn Kravitz at [email protected].
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This upcoming Sunday evening, WES will be hosting a screening of the new National Geographic documentary #GenderRevolution. This is a 90-minute documentary in which Katie Couric explores the depth of gender identity.
At 5:30pm, there will be pizza, with a requested donation to cover the cost of the pizza. At 6pm, the screening of the movie will take place in the Main Hall followed by a guided discussion. We hope you will bring your family and invite your friends as we open this up to the entire community. We encourage you to RSVP online, then simply 'share' the event with your friends. (
https://www.facebook.com/events/256252664797662/)
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 SEEK Weekly Spotlight
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WES relies on volunteers to support all the various programs we offer. With our quickly growing SEEK program, we are always in need of volunteers. If you have extra time during the week, there are opportunities to help with organizing materials, helping to finishing up the Children's library, and prepping for Sundays. If you are up for something more creative, you can also assist Melissa in finding/organizing fun activities for families and children outside of Sundays, too! And yes, there are projects for children to help! Recently, Laura Delaney and her daughters Fiona and Ella helped clean out and organize all our SEEK carts. It was such a huge help and fun to do! Contact
Melissa to arrange a time.
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This Sunday's Platform
9:30 & 11:30am.
"Learning and Living our Ethical Culture Identity," Melissa Sinclair, Director of Lifelong Learning.
Most people come to Ethical Culture through other religions -- with very little initial understanding of what Ethical Culture really is and no idea of its history. Melissa will highlight the Core Values of Ethical Culture, including how we teach them to our children and experience them as adults, and share what it means to say "I am an Ethical Culture Humanist!" Music from the WES Chorus.
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This Sunday at WES
Twitter Tutorial, 11am, Adler Study. Stop into the Adler Study (inside the office) to get a quick tutorial of how to use Twitter from WES's Communications & Administrative Coordinator Robyn Kravitz. If you have an iPad or laptop, we encourage you to bring it and we will get you tweeting in no time!
Tai Chi, 11am, Social Hall. We invite you to join us out on the front lawn (or in the Main Hall if weather doesn't cooperate) for a 30-minute session of Tai Chi. No experience necessary and perfect for all ages and abilities.
Schmoozapalooza Lunch, 12:45pm, Social Hall. WES continues our lunch on every third Sunday for all who want to hang out after platform and gab with friends. Gather around tables in the Social Hall and keep on talking. Nosh on a great lunch, with vegetarian options always available. Requested donation $5. Schmoozing with your friends and licking your fingers--what better way to keep on talking, parse the platform, and catch up! If you plan to attend the 9:30 platform, why not help out the Schmooze team and then join in the good food? Contact Julie Grimes at
[email protected] to get involved.
Sunday Book Club, after lunch, downstairs classroom. Rose Imhoff will lead a discussion of "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," by Junot Diaz. For more information, contact Rachel Hartig,
[email protected].
Earth Ethics Team Meeting, 1pm, Library. The Earth Ethics Team meets Sunday, February 19 at 1pm in the WES Library. Rich Reis will present a brief review of the book, "The Madhouse Effect, How Climate Change Denial is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying our Politics, and Driving Us...". The book has text of Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science, and cartoons by Tom Toles. We will have a copy of the book to pass around and possibly loan out. We will plan a nature hike, the greening of WES, our role in the upcoming People's Climate March, and more. Please join us!
"WES Tonight!" Rehearsal, 1pm, Double Classroom.
Gender Revolution Screening, Pizza, & Discussion, 5:30pm, Main Hall. As we explore Identity in February, join us for pizza & a discussion surrounding a showing of Gender Revolution. For more information about the documentary, please see
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/gender-revolution-guide.pdf. Movie is free. There will be a contribution jar for pizza.
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The Upcoming Weeks at WES
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Wednesday, February 15
Thursday, February 16
- Path to Membership Class, 9am-12:30pm. This is an identical class to the one hosted on Saturday, February 11. If you've been visiting WES and would like to learn more about membership in our community, this is the class for you! Senior Leader Amanda Poppei will teach a little about WES and Ethical Culture, and talk about what membership means. Please contact Amanda ([email protected]) if you are interested.
Friday, February 17
- Still Thirsty After All These Years, Scion Restaurant, 1200 East-West Highway. 5:30pm or whenever you arrive to 7:30.This group is for WES adults beyond the demographics of the "Young and Thirsty" group, but still thirsty for connections, entertainment, and new experiences. We will meet for Happy Hour on the third Friday of every month. Contact Nancy McGuire ([email protected]) or Shan Evans ([email protected] for more details.
Saturday, February 18
Tuesday, February 21
- Adult Education Council Meeting, 7-9pm Library. This group meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month for people interested in creating classes, trips, events for our adult community at WES. If you would like attend, please do. You can also contact Melissa Sinclair for more information.
Wednesday, February 22
- WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9 pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Thursday, February 23
- Board of Trustees Meeting, 7pm, Main Hall. All are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees! Agenda and materials are available in the Members' Access section of our website.
- Humanism from the Enlightenment to Ethical Culture, 7pm, Library. This class will cover the evolution of humanist thinking over time, starting with the rise of modern science and democracy in the Enlightenment and led to deism and transcendentalism, among others. It will connect these trends with Felix Adler and the founding of Ethical Culture. The format will be primarily lecture with opportunities for questions and it will be taught by Peter Bishop who is a life-long humanist activist who joined WES about 6 years ago. After a career in hi-tech, Dr. Bishop has recently become a philosopher, and recently had his first philosophical paper published on Naturalistic Transcendentalism.
Saturday, February 25
- QUILTBAG+ Family Social, 5pm, Eric Kearsley's house. This is a social event for members of the QUILTBAG+ family (LGBTQ letters rearranged, with additional identities included) to get together and know each other as part of the larger WES community. Spouses/partners and children are invited. Contact Danna Pope at [email protected] or Eric at [email protected] for questions or directions.
Sunday, February 26
- Platform Service, 9:30am & 11:30am. "Generation to Generation" Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader. In this "auction" platform, Amanda will explore the idea of generational identity--and what gifts and challenges we find being part of a truly multi-generational community like WES. Or in other words, will we ever agree on what counts as popular music? We will also welcome new members in a special ceremony. Music from mezzo soprano Emily Jaworski.
- Trello and Teach the Teacher Workshop, 10:45am, Adler Study. Meant primarily as a refresher and introduction on how to use Trello. Second half of the 45 minutes will be spent on pointers on teaching SEEK at WES.
- Ethical Living Laboratory, 11am, Social Hall. Join the Community Relations Committee to explore the principles of Ethical Culture and how we live them in our daily lives. This will offer an opportunity to connect with others in a small group setting.
- Biology Reading Group, 1pm, Library. For December, January, and February the Biology group will be reading the book I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life, by Ed Yong. For further information get in touch with Barbara Searle, [email protected].
- Refugee Resettlement Team Meeting, 1pm, Social Hall.
- "WES Tonight!" Rehearsal, 1pm, Main Hall.
Wednesday, March 1
- WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9 pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Thursday, March 2
- Our Ethical Education Identity, 7pm, Library. Learn the 150-year history of Ethical Culture in a fun, informative history lesson starting with Felix Adler and ending with where we are in our movement today.
Friday, March 3
- Bunco!, 7pm, Double Classroom. Join us for another fun evening of Bunco! at WES. For all the details, check out the Facebook event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/263786584058012/
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Announcements
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Upcoming Path to Membership Classes! There is still space in this Thursday's Path to Membership class. Please let Amanda ([email protected]) know if you will be attending.
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