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Now that it’s July, we are getting closer to the end of the 2022-2023 AEU calendar year. In our latest Message from the President, Carolyn Parker reflects on what has happened leading up to our upcoming Assembly on July 29th and shares why she feels hopeful for what the future has in store for us.

AEU Board Listening Sessions

The AEU Board of Directors has faced a number of challenging years and we are at a crossroads. Our movement needs to come together to decide its future. What’s next? 

Tune in this morning at 11 am ET to attend the 3rd All-Societies Listening Session.

Send Us Photos of Your Society to Have Them Featured on Our New Website!

The AEU Website Redesign Team is currently hard at work at improving aeu.org and we need your help. Could you send us photos of your Societies that took place during events/platforms? It doesn’t matter if they were in-person, on Zoom, or hybrid, any pictures you have would be appreciated. If you have any that you would like for us to include on the new website, click on the link below and create a folder with your Society’s name, and put them in there. If you would prefer to upload the photos directly, please label each photo with your Society’s name on them so we know where they came from. Email communications@aeu.org if you have any questions.

Multi-Society Gatherings

As part of the 108th Assembly events, we invited Societies to come together for a gathering, bbq, picnic, whatever to have fun and deepen our relationships with each other. The AEU distributed $3,000 total in mini-grants to support these gatherings. Click on the link below to see some pictures of the event organized by the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County. They hosted a gathering with Mary Mead at the Church of St. Andrew and Holy Communion where they brought in massive amounts of food to share with the South Asian community. Together they watched a documentary film made by and for the South Asian community and deepened their community connection.

Check Out the Full List of Candidates Running to Join the AEU as Board Directors and Officers!

Since last month's Announcements, there has been a change to the list of candidates running to join the AEU Board. Luijra Cooper has suspended her campaign as a director and is no longer on the ballot. Click on the link below to see the updated version courtesy of the Board Development Committee (BDC). If you have any questions, you can contact Chris Kaman, the BDC Chair, at ckaman@aeu.org.

There will be opportunities to learn about the candidates at the 108th Assembly Forums You can learn more here.  

1. Meet the Candidates Part 1 (Moderated by Chris Kaman) - July 11th, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM ET 
2. Meet the Candidates Part 2 (Moderated by Chris Kaman) - July 15th, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET

Do you believe that companies should put their money where their mouth is when it comes to social responsibility? If so, then the Ethical Business Practices Group sounds like the perfect place for you! Maureen Walsh from the Washington Ethical Society is looking to create an ethical business and is seeking members to join her in designing one. Interested in combining your love of Ethics with your passion for sustainability? Then email Maureen at maureen.s.walsh1814@gmail.com to get started!

Please mark your calendar to attend our AEU 2023 Assembly Business Meeting on July 29th! Click on the “Assembly Business” tab in the link below to see the full list of meetings so you will know what will be discussed and when.

Event Name: Ending Needless Waste; Anna Sacks Finds Treasures and “Solutions” in the Trash

Host: Westchester Community for Ethical Culture

Date: Saturday, July 8th

Time: 5:00 PM ET

While the phrase “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” has existed for eons, it looks like they found a spokesperson who fully embodies that ethos. Affectionately known as “The Trashwalker”, sustainability advocate and waste expert Anna Sacks has built quite the online following by exposing all the items that are needlessly sitting in garbage piles across New York City.

Joining the Westchester Community for Ethical Culture, Anna will discuss the plethora of problems surrounding this issue as well as potential solutions. If you live in the Westchester area, be sure to reserve your spot for what will be an eye-opening event.

Event Name: From Junkie to Judge: Recovery Without God 

Host: Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle

Date: Sunday, July 9th 

Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET

With millions being affected by substance abuse, this is an epidemic many of us are unfortunately all too familiar with. Joining the Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle for their first July Platform is special guest, Mary Beth O’Connor.

Ms. O’Connor will describe her personal experience with substance abuse disorder and how her recovery process led to her creating a secular-based treatment program as an alternative to the religious-centric approach of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Learn more about her and this Platform by clicking on the link below. To attend this meeting, send info@ehstnc.org an email with your first and last name.

Event Name: EHSR July Meeting with Special Guest, Kit Miller

Host: Ethical Humanist Society of Rochester

Date: Wednesday, July 12th 

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET

For this month’s meeting, the Ethical Humanist Society of Rochester will be joined by special guest, Kit Miller. Kit will be speaking about “Nonviolent Communication”, an approach to communication that is based on the general principles of nonviolence which are intended to increase empathy and improve quality of life. To learn more about Kit and to RSVP, click on the links below. We hope to see you there.

Event Name: Sunday Gathering: Reparations: For and Against

Host: Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County 

Date: Sunday, July 23rd 

Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM ET 

One solution to address the deep-rooted impact that systemic oppression is having on African Americans in the US is reparations. Despite being used in communities nationwide and considered in others, it is not universally supported, with those who are against it being just as passionate about the matter as those who are for it.

Led by Society member Orion Hopper, the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County will cover the history of the reparations movement, ways this method is being applied today and much more.

Interested? Email admin@ethicalfocus.org to receive the Zoom link.

Event Name: Terry McGovern: Public Health and the Dobbs Decision

Host: New York Society for Ethical Culture 

Date: Sunday, July 23rd 

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET

It has been one year since we have taken a step back as a country when the Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade. While a woman's right to have autonomy over her body is being threatened, public health at large has also been severely impacted by this failure in our justice system.

The New York Society for Ethical Culture will be joined by Terry McGovern to discuss what those ramifications are and examples of how people around the world are fighting back against abortion bans in their respective countries.

To learn more about Terry’s vast experience in the public health sector and attend this Platform via Zoom, click on the links below.

Intro to Restorative Justice Webinar

On May 31st, nationally-renowned Restorative Justice Trainers David Yusem and Kyle McClerkins gave us a crash course on what Restorative Justice is, how it works, and why it’s useful. Thank you David and Kyle for teaching us about this method of community building and for showing us how beneficial it could be for our movement.

Community of Practice Meeting

Following the Restorative Justice webinar and trainings, we convened a Community of Practice on June 27th. We had a lively conversation going deeply into the experience of being a circle keeper. We practiced in breakout rooms and built our confidence. We will be meeting regularly to gain the skills needed to address harm/conflict. Join us on August 15th @7pm ET by clicking on the link below to register.