From volcheck at acm.org Fri Jan 6 02:29:41 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 02:29:41 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] Struggle for GLBT Rights in Uganda, Wed. Jan. 11, 7:00 pm Message-ID: Dear friends, Please join BES and First Unitarian Church of Baltimore to learn about the struggle for GLBT rights in Uganda and the negative influence of US evangelicals pressing for anti-homosexual laws in Africa. Title: "The Struggle for GLBT Rights in Uganda" When: Wednesday, January 11, 7:00 pm Where: First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Corner of Charles and Franklin) Meetup: http://meetu.ps/6tvlT Rev. Kiyimba has led the opposition against the anti-homosexual laws being advocated in Uganda by US evangelicals and adopted by the Ugandan Parliament. In early 2011, following the issue of a warrant for his arrest, Rev. Kiyimba fled Uganda and has been living in sanctuary in the US and spreading the word about the GLBT persecution in Uganda. This lecture is free and open to the public. Read the action alert on Uganda from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU): http://www.iheu.org/taxonomy/term/123 Announcement from First Unitarian: http://firstunitarian.net/index.php/our-happenings/upcoming-events/calendar/view/20959/date/2012-01-11 Rev. Mark Kiyimba is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, Uganda, a congregation which focuses its social mission on alleviating the profound generational pain caused by HIV/AIDS in African societies. In 2004, Rev. Kiyimba founded the New Life School, a residential K-8 school and orphanage for children whose parents had died of HIV/AIDS. The school and orphanage has grown to serve over 500 children, and Rev. Kiyimba and the faculty and staff of 13 persons represent the school's greatest resource. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala has spoken out against the anti-homosexual laws being advocated in Uganda by US evangelicals and adopted by the Ugandan Parliament. In 2010, shortly after LGBT activist David Kato was bludgeoned to death after being targeted for assassination in the Ugandan press, Kiyimba organized a conference, "Standing on the Side of Love: redefining Valentine?s Day." This conference brought together gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual activists who were resisting the anti-homosexual laws for support and strategizing. In the ensuing months, Kiyimba remained vocal in his opposition; and in early 2011, an arrest warrant of Kiyimba was issued. He fled Uganda and has been living in sanctuary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is currently touring the United States and planning his return to Uganda. Rev. Kiyimba will be on a "Standing on the Side of Love" tour of the Baltimore-Capital Region from January 6 to 19, 2010, and will speak at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. The intentions of this tour are: * to allow Baltimore residents to "stand on the side of love" and to stand in the spirit of love with LGBT people and their allies in Uganda * to raise consciousness about the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda and many other countries around the globe * to lift up Dr. King's example of nonviolent protest, whether in word or in deed * to raise funds for the New Life School and other projects of the UU Church in Kampala * to consider what Unitarian Universalist congregations might do next to keep the momentum going, and invite others to join us Rev. Kiyimba is available to address the media by telephone beginning immediately, and will be available for in-person interviews beginning on January 6th. The Baltimore Coalition of Reason wishes to thank our member organization First Unitarian Church of Baltimore for extending this invitation to hear the Rev. Kiyimba. This lecture is part of the Zoerheide lecture series sponsored by First Unitarian. For more information about Baltimore CoR, visit http://BaltimoreCoR.org/ . -- Emil Volcheck volcheck at acm.org http://EmilVolcheck.com/ From volcheck at acm.org Tue Feb 7 09:46:12 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 09:46:12 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] Celebrate Darwin Day with BES and Baltimore CoR Message-ID: Dear friends, Come celebrate Darwin Day with friends of the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. You have two chances this week to show your support for reason and evolution! The first event is tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at the UMBC Secular Student Alliance. The second is Sunday at BES. The UMBC Secular Student Alliance event for Darwin Day is as follows: When: Wednesday, February 8th, from 7 to 9 pm Where: UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Physics 101, previously LH6 Meetup: http://meetu.ps/7bq8H Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/336730879693885/ Dr. Kevin Omland of the UMBC biology department will be joining the Secular Student Alliance in celebrating the legacy of Charles Darwin and his contributions to science for this holiday celebrating Darwin's birthday month. Parking: The best place to park on campus for non-students is in the Commons garage, on Commons Drive, at coin meters. The Physics building is a short walk across the street from the parking garage. Visitor parking is available in metered lots. Meters are enforced year round Monday-Friday from 7:30 am ? 9:00 pm. Meter fees are $.25 for each 15 minutes, quarters only, maximum time of 5 hours. If visitors come park after 7pm they can park in whichever section they choose, regardless of parking permit zone. ********* The second event is hosted by the Baltimore Secular Humanists and the Baltimore Ethical Society. When: Sunday, February 12, 10:30 am Where: Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St. Meetup: http://meetu.ps/77P06 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/341482992552765/ Foundations of Evolution Mike Reid President, Washington Area Secular Humanists As have all accomplished scientists, Charles Darwin built on the work of his predecessors. In this talk with accompanying slide presentation, Mike Reid will discuss the amazing ideas of Erasmus Darwin (Charles? grandfather who speculated on organisms originating from primitive ancestors), James Hutton (the 18th-century geologist who discovered the antiquity of the Earth and speculated on natural selection), Sir Charles Lyell (the geologist who inspired Darwin and later became his close friend), Alfred Russel Wallace (the naturalist who independently discovered organic evolution and natural selection), and others who while less well-known also made essential contributions. He will argue that Charles Darwin was the greatest of the evolutionists, but not the first or only one. He will also make the case that precursory scientific discoveries had to have been made and that society had to have reached a certain level of social, political, economic, and technological development before evolutionary theory could be formulated. Mike Reid is the president of the Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH), the parent organization of the Baltimore Secular Humanists. He holds degrees in geology and computer systems. He formerly taught geology and astronomy at a community college in California and works in the aerospace field and the space program. He has a long-standing interest in the history of science and in the 19th century. Washington Area Secular Humanists website: http://WASH.org/ Baltimore Coalition of Reason website: http://BaltimoreCoR.org/ -- Emil Volcheck volcheck at acm.org http://EmilVolcheck.com/ From bmorethical at gmail.com Thu Apr 19 17:32:42 2012 From: bmorethical at gmail.com (BES Baltimore Ethical Society -- bmorethical) Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:32:42 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Mayoral Proclamation honoring BES Message-ID: Dear friends, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has issued a proclamation honoring BES and designating Saturday as "Baltimore Ethical Society Day". The proclamation document will be presented at the 60th anniversary banquet. The text of the proclamation follows. ------------------- PROCLAMATION BY MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE DESIGNATING APRIL 21, 2012 AS "BALTIMORE ETHICAL SOCIETY DAY" IN BALTIMORE IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 60th ANNIVERSARY WHEREAS, the people of Baltimore are proud of their rich and diverse religious community and join in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Baltimore Ethical Society (BES); and WHEREAS, the BES is a humanistic religious fellowship that focuses on human lives and relationships, and explore what it means to live ethically as individuals, family members, and participants in the larger community; and WHEREAS, the BES also established the first racially integrated Sunday School in Baltimore in 1951, and then organized and incorporated in 1952; and WHEREAS, the people of Baltimore extend a very Happy 60th Anniversary and best wishes to the members of the Baltimore Ethical Society. Happy Anniversary! THEREFORE, I, STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, do hereby proclaim April 21, 2012, as the "Baltimore Ethical Society Day" IN BALTIMORE, and do urge all citizens to join in this celebration. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set the Great Seal of the City of Baltimore to be affixed this twenty-first day of April, two thousand twelve. (signed) Stephanie R Blake Mayor --- Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com http://bmorethical.org From volcheck at acm.org Tue May 15 22:41:51 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 22:41:51 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Ethical Culture Movement founded on this day in 1876 Message-ID: Dear friends, On this day in 1876, Felix Adler founded the Ethical Culture Movement with an address in New York City. You can read the full text here: http://www.aeuleaders.net/web/content/founding-address-felix-adler There's much that rings true today. Consider this passage: Eulogies on the nineteenth century are familiar to our ears, and orators delight to descant upon all the glorious things which it has achieved. Its railways, its printing presses, its increased comforts and refined luxuries -- all these are undeniable facts, and yet it is true none the less, that great and unexpected evils have followed in the train of our successes, and that the moral improvement of the nations and their individual components has not kept pace with the march of intellect and the advance of industry. Adler had the big picture in mind and believed that the efforts of individuals and communities can advance the progress of humankind. It's worth reflecting on this today. Thanks, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society http://bmorethical.org/ From bmorethical at gmail.com Fri Jun 15 00:41:45 2012 From: bmorethical at gmail.com (BES Baltimore Ethical Society -- bmorethical) Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:41:45 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Celebrate World Humanist Day (6/21) with Baltimore CoR Message-ID: Dear friends, Come celebrate World Humanist Day with friends of the Baltimore Coalition of Reason and show your support for reason and a positive vision of the future! We will screen the documentary "Waiting for Armageddon," which reveals the Christian Right's interest in promoting war in the Middle East, followed by Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking about humanity's future in space exploration (BookTV interview). This brings into contrast Humanism's positive vision of the future with the Christian Right's negative vision. When: Thursday, June 21, from 7 to 9 pm Where: Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St. Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/bmorethical/events/69207742/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/427128263975506/ Please RSVP via email to bmorethical at gmail.com, or through Facebook or Meetup, as we'll be ordering pizza. *** Part 1 *** "Waiting for Armageddon" Synopsis: America's 50-million strong Evangelical community is convinced that the world's future is foretold in Biblical prophecy - from the Rapture to the Battle of Armageddon. This astonishing documentary explores their world - in their homes, at conferences, and on a wide-ranging tour of Israel. By interweaving Christian, Zionist, Jewish and critical perspectives along with telling archival materials, the filmmakers probe the politically powerful - and potentially explosive - alliance between Evangelical Christians and Israel... an alliance that may set the stage for what one prominent Evangelical leader calls "World War III." The directors write "Our goal was not to draft a polemic. We worked to tell the story of prophecy through the eyes of Evangelicals while interweaving the voices of critics from within the religious community. What followed was a memorable journey into a community that is not well understood, but one, which has shaped the nation's political and social landscape for decades, and may now be urging us toward what one Evangelical leader calls 'World War III.' " *** Part 2 *** "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier" (BookTV) by Neil deGrasse Tyson About the Program: Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about the history and future of NASA and the US space program. He argues that the exploration of space benefits Americans more than they may think. Hosted by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the winner of the 2009 Isaac Asimov Science Award of the American Humanist Association. Parking: Parking is free on Franklin St. after 6 pm. Directions at ur1.ca/48tsi (or search Google Maps for Baltimore Ethical Society) Visit the Baltimore Coalition of Reason website: http://BaltimoreCoR.org/ -- Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com http://bmorethical.org From karenselliott at aol.com Tue Jul 3 22:39:42 2012 From: karenselliott at aol.com (KarenSElliott) Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 22:39:42 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] More Details on July 8th Joint Chesapeake Ethical Societies Meeting Message-ID: <37f17ce1.d112.4052.a0f2.e6cf72c7e569@aol.com> Here are additional details about the July 8 meeting that were not available earlier. Some information is repeated from previous e-mails: ?Put on Your Sunday Best? with Mary Herman, Jone Johnson Lewis, Amanda Poppei, & Hugh Taft-Morales The Chesapeake region Ethical Societies (Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Washington) will have a joint platform on July 8th starting at 11:00 AM, followed by a potluck lunch and get-together. The four Leaders of the three Societies will collaborate on a platform entitled ?Put on Your Sunday Best? in which they?ll reflect on what our Sunday best might look like in our shared religious tradition. We?ll have plenty of music as well as plenty of Leaders. The joint platform meeting will be hosted by the Washington Ethical Society, located at 7750 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20012 approximately 5 blocks into the District from the Washington, DC/Silver Spring, MD, border near the corner of Kalmia and 16th Street. Visit their website at www.ethicalsociety.org for directions if you need them. Street parking is available. As always, children are happily welcomed and age-appropriate activities will be provided for them following the story for the children (and for the child in us all). After the platform ends (at approximately 12:15 PM) we?ll share a pot luck lunch. We will follow the oft-used device of bringing something based on the first letter of your last name, so as to have a somewhat balanced meal. Please label your dish with the ingredients so those who have food allergies can eat without worry. Assignments are: A-K -- main dish salads L-R -- green or fruit salads S-Z ? dessert or breads Volunteers are needed to help with clean-up; please let Karen Elliott (karenselliott at aol.com) know if you can help. Of course, you can always pitch in to help without notification, but it will help us to know we have enough hands committed to help so we don?t end up with too much work per person. Rosemary Klein is coordinating ride-sharing from Baltimore; contact her at rvk1012 at aol.com if you need a ride or can provide one. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From volcheck at acm.org Mon Jul 16 00:27:42 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:27:42 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Support marriage equality! Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, As you probably know, Governor O'Malley signed into law "The Civil Marriage Protection Act of 2012," which extends to all couples the right to obtain a marriage license. This law is being challenged with a ballot initiative in the November election. The Baltimore Ethical Society has taken a position in favor of marriage equality and is asking all friends of the society to join us in support at whatever amount of time you can manage, whether it's minutes or hours. If you have a few minutes, you can be informed in these ways: Join the mailing list at http://mdfme.org/ Follow @MD4Equality on Twitter, or visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MD4Equality If you have time to go to one social event or fundraiser, BES member Bobbi Hahn has invited BES to join the ACLU of Maryland this Thursday, July 19, 6-9 PM at the Mad River Bar & Grille. Join the Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/bmorethical/events/73511692/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/460291833990393/ If you have 2 hours, you can help gather signatures at Artscape this weekend. Volunteers can work two-hour shifts running 11 AM to 7 PM. Or, you could do phone banking at the coalition office in the Can Company building. Volunteers can work Monday-Friday, 6-8 PM. If you have 4 hours, the coalition needs volunteers to canvas door-to-door. Canvassing is on Saturday afternoons and is more effective at reaching undecided voters than phone banks. Please contact me if you'd like to help. I'll try to coordinate times so that members and friends of BES can volunteer together. If you'd like to meet other activists, you're invited to attend the "Open House for Marriage Equality" every Friday 7 PM, in Charles Village. For details, visit the LGBTQ Humanist Council of Baltimore meetup at http://www.meetup.com/LGBTQ-Humanist-Council-of-Baltimore/ . The LGBTQ Humanist Council of Baltimore is a chapter of the American Humanist Association and one of our partner organizations in the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. Thanks for your support, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com From volcheck at acm.org Sat Aug 4 19:32:14 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2012 19:32:14 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] August program Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, Since we publish only one issue of our newsletter BESpeak during the summer, here's a reminder of our "Summer Sunday" program for August. Our meetings begin at 10:30 am. August 5, "Artisan Jewelry Making" by Dianne Hirsch Details: Designing and producing jewelry has proven to be a totally unexpected avenue for Dianne Hirsch's creativity. She notes that "What started as a lark has now become a passion. It's like some circuit in my brain has been activated, and a whole new world is now available to me." This Sunday she will discuss and demonstrate the creative process she uses when making the jewelry she sells in her business Dos Gatos Artisan Jewelry. Dianne, a BES member, is also a member of the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore. For the past two and a half years, she has been showing her jewelry, designed from sterling silver, vermeil, brass, copper, and semi-precious gems. August 12, "Katsu-Ryu Kempo: The Physical & Ethical Dimension of a Martial Art" by Richard Campbell Details: This is the third in Richard Campbell's series of presentations on the Japanese martial arts. Katsu Ryu Kempo is a soft style relying on relaxation and speed to achieve its effects. When first learning it one relies on slow, gentle motions primarily with the hands. It is easily attempted. The platform will include an introduction, active participation by those attending, and the usual talk back. August 19, "Physical Fitness in Daily Life" by Erik Thiele Orberg, MD Details: This summer millions looked to London with pride as athletes competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The media coverage and pay of top athletes rivals that of political leaders and movie stars. Colleges regard highly the education of varsity student-athletes. Yet despite all the interest and admiration of professional sports, most individuals rarely engage in physical activity themselves. In our everyday lives, success at amateur sports is undervalued in comparison to individual professional or social accomplishments. Why does such a discrepancy exist, and how does it impact on our national health as well as our personal well-being and longevity? Born in Boston, Erik at age one moved with his parents to Campinas, Brazil, living there for eight years prior to moving to Vienna, Austria. In 2010 he graduated from the Medical University of Vienna and is now pursuing his PhD in immunology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A passionate runner, Erik recently became the captain of the Hopkins Marathon Team. Five full marathons are among a variety of races he will run in 2012. His next goal is a sub-3 PR. Our full calendar of events is on our website, Meetup, and Facebook: http://bmorethical.org/ http://meetup.com/bmorethical/ http://facebook.com/bmorethical/ Podcasts of previous speakers are available on our website. Our latest podcast is "For Country Sans God: Humanism and Religious Hegemony in the military" by Ryan Jean: http://bmorethical.org/for-country-sans-god-humanism-and-religious-hegemony-in-the-military/ Thanks, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society president at bmorethical.org From volcheck at acm.org Sat Aug 11 13:55:21 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 13:55:21 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] BES opposes proposed youth jail; joins OYO coalition Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, The Ethical Action Committee is pleased to announce that the Baltimore Ethical Society has approved the proposal to take an official position on juvenile justice reform in Baltimore. Specifically, BES * Joined the coalition Organizations for Youth Opportunities (OYO) http://www.oyobaltimore.org/ * Supports the coalition goals to oppose construction of a new Baltimore City jail for youth charged as adults and to allocate the proposed jail funds in a way that improves public safety and outcomes for youth * Supports the coalition slogan "Recreate ? Don't Incarcerate" Thanks to Karen and Don Helm for gathering signatures and making phone calls and to all the members who supported the proposal. Karen will represent BES to the OYO coalition and will keep us informed about opportunities to volunteer. If you would like to be kept informed, please reply to this email or contact Karen at karenrhelm at gmail.com . Opposition to the proposed youth jail is increasing. This week, the Baltimore Sun wrote an editorial titled "A Broken Juvenile Justice System," which states "Youthful offenders at Baltimore Detention Center won't be better off if the state builds a new $70 million juvenile jail; the whole policy of charging minors as adults needs rethinking." You can read the full story here: http://ur1.ca/9xawt Best wishes, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society president at bmorethical.org From volcheck at acm.org Tue Oct 30 22:52:56 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:52:56 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Support Marriage Equality; Rally for Affirmative Youth Opportunity Message-ID: Dear friends, The Baltimore Ethical Society is asking all our friends to Vote For Question 6 and support marriage equality on Election Day next Tuesday. If you would like to help us get the word out about Question 6, here's what you can do: * Join us for phone banking this Friday, 5-7 PM * Hand out voter information guides on Election Day * Tell 20 friends to vote for Question 6 * Contribute to Marylanders for Marriage Equality BES is proud to be a member of the Marylanders for Marriage Equality (MDFME) Coalition. Our members and friends have done phone banking three times, held a fundraising party that drew 60 people and raised almost $900, and "adopted" a polling place on Election Day where we take responsibility for providing voter information from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm. We're reaching out to our wider network of friends for help in the last week before the election. If you would like to help, please email bmorethical at gmail.com or visit the MDFME website: http://mdfme.org/electionday/ or "Like" MDFME on Facebook http://fb.com/MD4Equality Our activism continues after the election. Join BES on Thursday, November 8, at 5:00 pm at City Hall for a rally to oppose the construction of the new youth jail, with keynote by Rev. Jesse Jackson. BES belongs to the coalition Affirmative Youth Opportunity (AYO) that believes we can act to reinvest the approved jail dollars to fund alternatives to detention, improve conditions for those who need to be held, and rebuild Baltimore's system of recreation, providing the basics in youth development opportunities while creating jobs for adults and youth in our communities. Read more at http://ur1.ca/aqdbm . After the Rally, join us for a screening of "Fixing the Future" at the Creative Alliance and learn how opportunities are being created in Baltimore: http://meetu.ps/lqw0Y Sincerely, Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society president at bmorethical.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From volcheck at acm.org Wed Nov 21 01:33:00 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:33:00 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] Two special events: Dennett speaks at JHU, Screening of "The House I Live In" Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, There are two special events on morality and social justice at the Johns Hopkins University that we hope you can attend. Both are free and open to the public. Next Wednesday, November 28, at 4:00 pm, the noted philosopher and cognitive scientist Prof. Daniel Dennett will deliver a lecture titled "What does cognitive science have to tell us about free will and responsibility?" Many of us know Dennett as one of the "Four Horsemen of the New Atheism," together with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens. The lecture is in Hodson Hall 110 on the Hopkins Homewood Campus. Details and abstract here: Meetup: http://meetu.ps/qjTKC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/395562803855394/ Join us for a screening of the documentary "The House I Live In" on Tuesday, December 4, at 6:00 pm in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. This film by Eugene Jarecki reveals failures of U.S. drug control policy. The program will begin with a panel discussion on local efforts to reform our justice system. The BES Ethical Action Committee has arranged for 40 seats to be set aside for BES. Reservations are required by Nov. 27 (at no cost). Please reply to bmorethical at gmail.com or call Kate LaClair at 201-978-3191 to reserve your seat. Details here: Meetup: http://meetu.ps/qff1C Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/170353586442723/ We hope you can join us. Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com -- Emil Volcheck volcheck at acm.org http://EmilVolcheck.com/ From volcheck at acm.org Thu Dec 20 10:15:21 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:15:21 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] HumanLight Celebration this Sunday (12/23, 7:00 pm) Message-ID: Dear friends, Please join us this Sunday December 23rd at 7:00 pm to celebrate HumanLight at BES with our friends from the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. HumanLight is a celebration of the winter season conceived by the New Jersey Humanist Network as a humanist or secular alternative to traditional religious celebrations. HumanLight features music and the lighting of three candles celebrating Reason, Compassion, and Hope. HumanLight was first celebrated in 2001 in New Jersey and has since spread throughout the country. This year is the third celebration of HumanLight by the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. To learn more, visit the HumanLight website at http://www.HumanLight.org/ . This year BES is hosting the celebration of HumanLight. We will have a pot-luck dinner and desserts, music, and the candle lighting. This is a family-friendly event, and children are welcome. Sign up to bring a potluck dinner dish or dessert here: http://ur1.ca/byffz If you would like to RSVP directly, or the Google Doc is not working for you, please: Email BmoreCoR at gmail.com Join the MeetUp at http://meetu.ps/qBjZH or Sign up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/129176453907289/ Schedule 7:00 pm doors open, meet and greet 7:30 pm Candle lighting: 3 candles for Reason, Compassion, Hope Music: ?These Three Flames? (a HumanLight song) Potluck dinner after the candle lighting. 8:45 pm Address by Hugh Taft-Morales (Times are approximate.) Musical entertainment will be provided by the Organic Family Band of Judith Geller and Michael Raitzyk! We hope you can participate! Thanks, --Emil From volcheck at acm.org Fri Jan 6 02:29:41 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2012 02:29:41 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] Struggle for GLBT Rights in Uganda, Wed. Jan. 11, 7:00 pm Message-ID: Dear friends, Please join BES and First Unitarian Church of Baltimore to learn about the struggle for GLBT rights in Uganda and the negative influence of US evangelicals pressing for anti-homosexual laws in Africa. Title: "The Struggle for GLBT Rights in Uganda" When: Wednesday, January 11, 7:00 pm Where: First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Corner of Charles and Franklin) Meetup: http://meetu.ps/6tvlT Rev. Kiyimba has led the opposition against the anti-homosexual laws being advocated in Uganda by US evangelicals and adopted by the Ugandan Parliament. In early 2011, following the issue of a warrant for his arrest, Rev. Kiyimba fled Uganda and has been living in sanctuary in the US and spreading the word about the GLBT persecution in Uganda. This lecture is free and open to the public. Read the action alert on Uganda from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU): http://www.iheu.org/taxonomy/term/123 Announcement from First Unitarian: http://firstunitarian.net/index.php/our-happenings/upcoming-events/calendar/view/20959/date/2012-01-11 Rev. Mark Kiyimba is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, Uganda, a congregation which focuses its social mission on alleviating the profound generational pain caused by HIV/AIDS in African societies. In 2004, Rev. Kiyimba founded the New Life School, a residential K-8 school and orphanage for children whose parents had died of HIV/AIDS. The school and orphanage has grown to serve over 500 children, and Rev. Kiyimba and the faculty and staff of 13 persons represent the school's greatest resource. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala has spoken out against the anti-homosexual laws being advocated in Uganda by US evangelicals and adopted by the Ugandan Parliament. In 2010, shortly after LGBT activist David Kato was bludgeoned to death after being targeted for assassination in the Ugandan press, Kiyimba organized a conference, "Standing on the Side of Love: redefining Valentine?s Day." This conference brought together gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual activists who were resisting the anti-homosexual laws for support and strategizing. In the ensuing months, Kiyimba remained vocal in his opposition; and in early 2011, an arrest warrant of Kiyimba was issued. He fled Uganda and has been living in sanctuary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is currently touring the United States and planning his return to Uganda. Rev. Kiyimba will be on a "Standing on the Side of Love" tour of the Baltimore-Capital Region from January 6 to 19, 2010, and will speak at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. The intentions of this tour are: * to allow Baltimore residents to "stand on the side of love" and to stand in the spirit of love with LGBT people and their allies in Uganda * to raise consciousness about the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda and many other countries around the globe * to lift up Dr. King's example of nonviolent protest, whether in word or in deed * to raise funds for the New Life School and other projects of the UU Church in Kampala * to consider what Unitarian Universalist congregations might do next to keep the momentum going, and invite others to join us Rev. Kiyimba is available to address the media by telephone beginning immediately, and will be available for in-person interviews beginning on January 6th. The Baltimore Coalition of Reason wishes to thank our member organization First Unitarian Church of Baltimore for extending this invitation to hear the Rev. Kiyimba. This lecture is part of the Zoerheide lecture series sponsored by First Unitarian. For more information about Baltimore CoR, visit http://BaltimoreCoR.org/ . -- Emil Volcheck volcheck at acm.org http://EmilVolcheck.com/ From volcheck at acm.org Tue Feb 7 09:46:12 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 09:46:12 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] Celebrate Darwin Day with BES and Baltimore CoR Message-ID: Dear friends, Come celebrate Darwin Day with friends of the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. You have two chances this week to show your support for reason and evolution! The first event is tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at the UMBC Secular Student Alliance. The second is Sunday at BES. The UMBC Secular Student Alliance event for Darwin Day is as follows: When: Wednesday, February 8th, from 7 to 9 pm Where: UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Physics 101, previously LH6 Meetup: http://meetu.ps/7bq8H Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/336730879693885/ Dr. Kevin Omland of the UMBC biology department will be joining the Secular Student Alliance in celebrating the legacy of Charles Darwin and his contributions to science for this holiday celebrating Darwin's birthday month. Parking: The best place to park on campus for non-students is in the Commons garage, on Commons Drive, at coin meters. The Physics building is a short walk across the street from the parking garage. Visitor parking is available in metered lots. Meters are enforced year round Monday-Friday from 7:30 am ? 9:00 pm. Meter fees are $.25 for each 15 minutes, quarters only, maximum time of 5 hours. If visitors come park after 7pm they can park in whichever section they choose, regardless of parking permit zone. ********* The second event is hosted by the Baltimore Secular Humanists and the Baltimore Ethical Society. When: Sunday, February 12, 10:30 am Where: Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St. Meetup: http://meetu.ps/77P06 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/341482992552765/ Foundations of Evolution Mike Reid President, Washington Area Secular Humanists As have all accomplished scientists, Charles Darwin built on the work of his predecessors. In this talk with accompanying slide presentation, Mike Reid will discuss the amazing ideas of Erasmus Darwin (Charles? grandfather who speculated on organisms originating from primitive ancestors), James Hutton (the 18th-century geologist who discovered the antiquity of the Earth and speculated on natural selection), Sir Charles Lyell (the geologist who inspired Darwin and later became his close friend), Alfred Russel Wallace (the naturalist who independently discovered organic evolution and natural selection), and others who while less well-known also made essential contributions. He will argue that Charles Darwin was the greatest of the evolutionists, but not the first or only one. He will also make the case that precursory scientific discoveries had to have been made and that society had to have reached a certain level of social, political, economic, and technological development before evolutionary theory could be formulated. Mike Reid is the president of the Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH), the parent organization of the Baltimore Secular Humanists. He holds degrees in geology and computer systems. He formerly taught geology and astronomy at a community college in California and works in the aerospace field and the space program. He has a long-standing interest in the history of science and in the 19th century. Washington Area Secular Humanists website: http://WASH.org/ Baltimore Coalition of Reason website: http://BaltimoreCoR.org/ -- Emil Volcheck volcheck at acm.org http://EmilVolcheck.com/ From bmorethical at gmail.com Thu Apr 19 17:32:42 2012 From: bmorethical at gmail.com (BES Baltimore Ethical Society -- bmorethical) Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:32:42 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Mayoral Proclamation honoring BES Message-ID: Dear friends, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has issued a proclamation honoring BES and designating Saturday as "Baltimore Ethical Society Day". The proclamation document will be presented at the 60th anniversary banquet. The text of the proclamation follows. ------------------- PROCLAMATION BY MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE DESIGNATING APRIL 21, 2012 AS "BALTIMORE ETHICAL SOCIETY DAY" IN BALTIMORE IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 60th ANNIVERSARY WHEREAS, the people of Baltimore are proud of their rich and diverse religious community and join in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Baltimore Ethical Society (BES); and WHEREAS, the BES is a humanistic religious fellowship that focuses on human lives and relationships, and explore what it means to live ethically as individuals, family members, and participants in the larger community; and WHEREAS, the BES also established the first racially integrated Sunday School in Baltimore in 1951, and then organized and incorporated in 1952; and WHEREAS, the people of Baltimore extend a very Happy 60th Anniversary and best wishes to the members of the Baltimore Ethical Society. Happy Anniversary! THEREFORE, I, STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, do hereby proclaim April 21, 2012, as the "Baltimore Ethical Society Day" IN BALTIMORE, and do urge all citizens to join in this celebration. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set the Great Seal of the City of Baltimore to be affixed this twenty-first day of April, two thousand twelve. (signed) Stephanie R Blake Mayor --- Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com http://bmorethical.org From volcheck at acm.org Tue May 15 22:41:51 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 22:41:51 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Ethical Culture Movement founded on this day in 1876 Message-ID: Dear friends, On this day in 1876, Felix Adler founded the Ethical Culture Movement with an address in New York City. You can read the full text here: http://www.aeuleaders.net/web/content/founding-address-felix-adler There's much that rings true today. Consider this passage: Eulogies on the nineteenth century are familiar to our ears, and orators delight to descant upon all the glorious things which it has achieved. Its railways, its printing presses, its increased comforts and refined luxuries -- all these are undeniable facts, and yet it is true none the less, that great and unexpected evils have followed in the train of our successes, and that the moral improvement of the nations and their individual components has not kept pace with the march of intellect and the advance of industry. Adler had the big picture in mind and believed that the efforts of individuals and communities can advance the progress of humankind. It's worth reflecting on this today. Thanks, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society http://bmorethical.org/ From bmorethical at gmail.com Fri Jun 15 00:41:45 2012 From: bmorethical at gmail.com (BES Baltimore Ethical Society -- bmorethical) Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:41:45 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Celebrate World Humanist Day (6/21) with Baltimore CoR Message-ID: Dear friends, Come celebrate World Humanist Day with friends of the Baltimore Coalition of Reason and show your support for reason and a positive vision of the future! We will screen the documentary "Waiting for Armageddon," which reveals the Christian Right's interest in promoting war in the Middle East, followed by Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking about humanity's future in space exploration (BookTV interview). This brings into contrast Humanism's positive vision of the future with the Christian Right's negative vision. When: Thursday, June 21, from 7 to 9 pm Where: Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St. Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/bmorethical/events/69207742/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/427128263975506/ Please RSVP via email to bmorethical at gmail.com, or through Facebook or Meetup, as we'll be ordering pizza. *** Part 1 *** "Waiting for Armageddon" Synopsis: America's 50-million strong Evangelical community is convinced that the world's future is foretold in Biblical prophecy - from the Rapture to the Battle of Armageddon. This astonishing documentary explores their world - in their homes, at conferences, and on a wide-ranging tour of Israel. By interweaving Christian, Zionist, Jewish and critical perspectives along with telling archival materials, the filmmakers probe the politically powerful - and potentially explosive - alliance between Evangelical Christians and Israel... an alliance that may set the stage for what one prominent Evangelical leader calls "World War III." The directors write "Our goal was not to draft a polemic. We worked to tell the story of prophecy through the eyes of Evangelicals while interweaving the voices of critics from within the religious community. What followed was a memorable journey into a community that is not well understood, but one, which has shaped the nation's political and social landscape for decades, and may now be urging us toward what one Evangelical leader calls 'World War III.' " *** Part 2 *** "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier" (BookTV) by Neil deGrasse Tyson About the Program: Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about the history and future of NASA and the US space program. He argues that the exploration of space benefits Americans more than they may think. Hosted by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the winner of the 2009 Isaac Asimov Science Award of the American Humanist Association. Parking: Parking is free on Franklin St. after 6 pm. Directions at ur1.ca/48tsi (or search Google Maps for Baltimore Ethical Society) Visit the Baltimore Coalition of Reason website: http://BaltimoreCoR.org/ -- Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com http://bmorethical.org From karenselliott at aol.com Tue Jul 3 22:39:42 2012 From: karenselliott at aol.com (KarenSElliott) Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 22:39:42 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] More Details on July 8th Joint Chesapeake Ethical Societies Meeting Message-ID: <37f17ce1.d112.4052.a0f2.e6cf72c7e569@aol.com> Here are additional details about the July 8 meeting that were not available earlier. Some information is repeated from previous e-mails: ?Put on Your Sunday Best? with Mary Herman, Jone Johnson Lewis, Amanda Poppei, & Hugh Taft-Morales The Chesapeake region Ethical Societies (Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Washington) will have a joint platform on July 8th starting at 11:00 AM, followed by a potluck lunch and get-together. The four Leaders of the three Societies will collaborate on a platform entitled ?Put on Your Sunday Best? in which they?ll reflect on what our Sunday best might look like in our shared religious tradition. We?ll have plenty of music as well as plenty of Leaders. The joint platform meeting will be hosted by the Washington Ethical Society, located at 7750 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20012 approximately 5 blocks into the District from the Washington, DC/Silver Spring, MD, border near the corner of Kalmia and 16th Street. Visit their website at www.ethicalsociety.org for directions if you need them. Street parking is available. As always, children are happily welcomed and age-appropriate activities will be provided for them following the story for the children (and for the child in us all). After the platform ends (at approximately 12:15 PM) we?ll share a pot luck lunch. We will follow the oft-used device of bringing something based on the first letter of your last name, so as to have a somewhat balanced meal. Please label your dish with the ingredients so those who have food allergies can eat without worry. Assignments are: A-K -- main dish salads L-R -- green or fruit salads S-Z ? dessert or breads Volunteers are needed to help with clean-up; please let Karen Elliott (karenselliott at aol.com) know if you can help. Of course, you can always pitch in to help without notification, but it will help us to know we have enough hands committed to help so we don?t end up with too much work per person. Rosemary Klein is coordinating ride-sharing from Baltimore; contact her at rvk1012 at aol.com if you need a ride or can provide one. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From volcheck at acm.org Mon Jul 16 00:27:42 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:27:42 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Support marriage equality! Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, As you probably know, Governor O'Malley signed into law "The Civil Marriage Protection Act of 2012," which extends to all couples the right to obtain a marriage license. This law is being challenged with a ballot initiative in the November election. The Baltimore Ethical Society has taken a position in favor of marriage equality and is asking all friends of the society to join us in support at whatever amount of time you can manage, whether it's minutes or hours. If you have a few minutes, you can be informed in these ways: Join the mailing list at http://mdfme.org/ Follow @MD4Equality on Twitter, or visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MD4Equality If you have time to go to one social event or fundraiser, BES member Bobbi Hahn has invited BES to join the ACLU of Maryland this Thursday, July 19, 6-9 PM at the Mad River Bar & Grille. Join the Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/bmorethical/events/73511692/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/460291833990393/ If you have 2 hours, you can help gather signatures at Artscape this weekend. Volunteers can work two-hour shifts running 11 AM to 7 PM. Or, you could do phone banking at the coalition office in the Can Company building. Volunteers can work Monday-Friday, 6-8 PM. If you have 4 hours, the coalition needs volunteers to canvas door-to-door. Canvassing is on Saturday afternoons and is more effective at reaching undecided voters than phone banks. Please contact me if you'd like to help. I'll try to coordinate times so that members and friends of BES can volunteer together. If you'd like to meet other activists, you're invited to attend the "Open House for Marriage Equality" every Friday 7 PM, in Charles Village. For details, visit the LGBTQ Humanist Council of Baltimore meetup at http://www.meetup.com/LGBTQ-Humanist-Council-of-Baltimore/ . The LGBTQ Humanist Council of Baltimore is a chapter of the American Humanist Association and one of our partner organizations in the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. Thanks for your support, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com From volcheck at acm.org Sat Aug 4 19:32:14 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2012 19:32:14 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] August program Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, Since we publish only one issue of our newsletter BESpeak during the summer, here's a reminder of our "Summer Sunday" program for August. Our meetings begin at 10:30 am. August 5, "Artisan Jewelry Making" by Dianne Hirsch Details: Designing and producing jewelry has proven to be a totally unexpected avenue for Dianne Hirsch's creativity. She notes that "What started as a lark has now become a passion. It's like some circuit in my brain has been activated, and a whole new world is now available to me." This Sunday she will discuss and demonstrate the creative process she uses when making the jewelry she sells in her business Dos Gatos Artisan Jewelry. Dianne, a BES member, is also a member of the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore. For the past two and a half years, she has been showing her jewelry, designed from sterling silver, vermeil, brass, copper, and semi-precious gems. August 12, "Katsu-Ryu Kempo: The Physical & Ethical Dimension of a Martial Art" by Richard Campbell Details: This is the third in Richard Campbell's series of presentations on the Japanese martial arts. Katsu Ryu Kempo is a soft style relying on relaxation and speed to achieve its effects. When first learning it one relies on slow, gentle motions primarily with the hands. It is easily attempted. The platform will include an introduction, active participation by those attending, and the usual talk back. August 19, "Physical Fitness in Daily Life" by Erik Thiele Orberg, MD Details: This summer millions looked to London with pride as athletes competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The media coverage and pay of top athletes rivals that of political leaders and movie stars. Colleges regard highly the education of varsity student-athletes. Yet despite all the interest and admiration of professional sports, most individuals rarely engage in physical activity themselves. In our everyday lives, success at amateur sports is undervalued in comparison to individual professional or social accomplishments. Why does such a discrepancy exist, and how does it impact on our national health as well as our personal well-being and longevity? Born in Boston, Erik at age one moved with his parents to Campinas, Brazil, living there for eight years prior to moving to Vienna, Austria. In 2010 he graduated from the Medical University of Vienna and is now pursuing his PhD in immunology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A passionate runner, Erik recently became the captain of the Hopkins Marathon Team. Five full marathons are among a variety of races he will run in 2012. His next goal is a sub-3 PR. Our full calendar of events is on our website, Meetup, and Facebook: http://bmorethical.org/ http://meetup.com/bmorethical/ http://facebook.com/bmorethical/ Podcasts of previous speakers are available on our website. Our latest podcast is "For Country Sans God: Humanism and Religious Hegemony in the military" by Ryan Jean: http://bmorethical.org/for-country-sans-god-humanism-and-religious-hegemony-in-the-military/ Thanks, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society president at bmorethical.org From volcheck at acm.org Sat Aug 11 13:55:21 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 13:55:21 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] BES opposes proposed youth jail; joins OYO coalition Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, The Ethical Action Committee is pleased to announce that the Baltimore Ethical Society has approved the proposal to take an official position on juvenile justice reform in Baltimore. Specifically, BES * Joined the coalition Organizations for Youth Opportunities (OYO) http://www.oyobaltimore.org/ * Supports the coalition goals to oppose construction of a new Baltimore City jail for youth charged as adults and to allocate the proposed jail funds in a way that improves public safety and outcomes for youth * Supports the coalition slogan "Recreate ? Don't Incarcerate" Thanks to Karen and Don Helm for gathering signatures and making phone calls and to all the members who supported the proposal. Karen will represent BES to the OYO coalition and will keep us informed about opportunities to volunteer. If you would like to be kept informed, please reply to this email or contact Karen at karenrhelm at gmail.com . Opposition to the proposed youth jail is increasing. This week, the Baltimore Sun wrote an editorial titled "A Broken Juvenile Justice System," which states "Youthful offenders at Baltimore Detention Center won't be better off if the state builds a new $70 million juvenile jail; the whole policy of charging minors as adults needs rethinking." You can read the full story here: http://ur1.ca/9xawt Best wishes, --Emil -- Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society president at bmorethical.org From volcheck at acm.org Tue Oct 30 22:52:56 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:52:56 -0400 Subject: [BES Friends] Support Marriage Equality; Rally for Affirmative Youth Opportunity Message-ID: Dear friends, The Baltimore Ethical Society is asking all our friends to Vote For Question 6 and support marriage equality on Election Day next Tuesday. If you would like to help us get the word out about Question 6, here's what you can do: * Join us for phone banking this Friday, 5-7 PM * Hand out voter information guides on Election Day * Tell 20 friends to vote for Question 6 * Contribute to Marylanders for Marriage Equality BES is proud to be a member of the Marylanders for Marriage Equality (MDFME) Coalition. Our members and friends have done phone banking three times, held a fundraising party that drew 60 people and raised almost $900, and "adopted" a polling place on Election Day where we take responsibility for providing voter information from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm. We're reaching out to our wider network of friends for help in the last week before the election. If you would like to help, please email bmorethical at gmail.com or visit the MDFME website: http://mdfme.org/electionday/ or "Like" MDFME on Facebook http://fb.com/MD4Equality Our activism continues after the election. Join BES on Thursday, November 8, at 5:00 pm at City Hall for a rally to oppose the construction of the new youth jail, with keynote by Rev. Jesse Jackson. BES belongs to the coalition Affirmative Youth Opportunity (AYO) that believes we can act to reinvest the approved jail dollars to fund alternatives to detention, improve conditions for those who need to be held, and rebuild Baltimore's system of recreation, providing the basics in youth development opportunities while creating jobs for adults and youth in our communities. Read more at http://ur1.ca/aqdbm . After the Rally, join us for a screening of "Fixing the Future" at the Creative Alliance and learn how opportunities are being created in Baltimore: http://meetu.ps/lqw0Y Sincerely, Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society president at bmorethical.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From volcheck at acm.org Wed Nov 21 01:33:00 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:33:00 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] Two special events: Dennett speaks at JHU, Screening of "The House I Live In" Message-ID: Dear friends of the Baltimore Ethical Society, There are two special events on morality and social justice at the Johns Hopkins University that we hope you can attend. Both are free and open to the public. Next Wednesday, November 28, at 4:00 pm, the noted philosopher and cognitive scientist Prof. Daniel Dennett will deliver a lecture titled "What does cognitive science have to tell us about free will and responsibility?" Many of us know Dennett as one of the "Four Horsemen of the New Atheism," together with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens. The lecture is in Hodson Hall 110 on the Hopkins Homewood Campus. Details and abstract here: Meetup: http://meetu.ps/qjTKC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/395562803855394/ Join us for a screening of the documentary "The House I Live In" on Tuesday, December 4, at 6:00 pm in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. This film by Eugene Jarecki reveals failures of U.S. drug control policy. The program will begin with a panel discussion on local efforts to reform our justice system. The BES Ethical Action Committee has arranged for 40 seats to be set aside for BES. Reservations are required by Nov. 27 (at no cost). Please reply to bmorethical at gmail.com or call Kate LaClair at 201-978-3191 to reserve your seat. Details here: Meetup: http://meetu.ps/qff1C Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/170353586442723/ We hope you can join us. Emil Volcheck, President Baltimore Ethical Society bmorethical at gmail.com -- Emil Volcheck volcheck at acm.org http://EmilVolcheck.com/ From volcheck at acm.org Thu Dec 20 10:15:21 2012 From: volcheck at acm.org (Emil Volcheck) Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:15:21 -0500 Subject: [BES Friends] HumanLight Celebration this Sunday (12/23, 7:00 pm) Message-ID: Dear friends, Please join us this Sunday December 23rd at 7:00 pm to celebrate HumanLight at BES with our friends from the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. HumanLight is a celebration of the winter season conceived by the New Jersey Humanist Network as a humanist or secular alternative to traditional religious celebrations. HumanLight features music and the lighting of three candles celebrating Reason, Compassion, and Hope. HumanLight was first celebrated in 2001 in New Jersey and has since spread throughout the country. This year is the third celebration of HumanLight by the Baltimore Coalition of Reason. To learn more, visit the HumanLight website at http://www.HumanLight.org/ . This year BES is hosting the celebration of HumanLight. We will have a pot-luck dinner and desserts, music, and the candle lighting. This is a family-friendly event, and children are welcome. Sign up to bring a potluck dinner dish or dessert here: http://ur1.ca/byffz If you would like to RSVP directly, or the Google Doc is not working for you, please: Email BmoreCoR at gmail.com Join the MeetUp at http://meetu.ps/qBjZH or Sign up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/129176453907289/ Schedule 7:00 pm doors open, meet and greet 7:30 pm Candle lighting: 3 candles for Reason, Compassion, Hope Music: ?These Three Flames? (a HumanLight song) Potluck dinner after the candle lighting. 8:45 pm Address by Hugh Taft-Morales (Times are approximate.) Musical entertainment will be provided by the Organic Family Band of Judith Geller and Michael Raitzyk! We hope you can participate! Thanks, --Emil