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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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 The American Humanist Association is currently seeking humanists to participate in our pen pal program, a facet of AHA's "Humanism For All" prison outreach. We recognize how contact with the outside world stimulates a positive, healthy, and hopeful attitude for those incarcerated. Research from inmate feedback has shown that having a pen pal helps combat feelings of isolation, encourages positive changes to self-identity, boosts happiness, increases hopes for life beyond prison, and increases chances of successful reintegration. The purpose of this program is to connect humanist (or humanist curious) inmates to like-minded volunteer pen pals, and to foster positive relationships and healthy correspondence to promote humanist values. If you're interested in joining the pen pal program, see the article on our website at
http://ethicalsociety.org/wes-joins-aha-inmate-pen-pal-program/ for more information!
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 The #WESteens are going to a ropes course! After the second platform on April 23, the #WESteens are heading up to
Sandy Spring Friends School to climb the Adventure Park.
All high schoolers are invited to challenge themselves mentally and physically at this amazing course. Dress for the weather... the Adventure Park doesn't stop due to rain.
Parents & Teens -- Keep an eye on your email for the release form from Mike in the next couple of days. That will be required for all participants. If you have any questions, contact Mike directly at
mikek@ethicalsociety.org.
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 Join us Saturday, April 29, to show we care passionately about climate and justice. We will meet up to carry the WES banner. For when and where, and for text updates during the march, sign up to receive real-time updates from WES as we gather and march throughout the day with your cell number. This is a similar system WES used for the Women's March. You will need to simple sign up on the site (your character type - teacher, student, parent, etc., isn't relevant). Then you will receive text messages throughout the march.
Here's the day's schedule:
- 11am - gather on the Mall near 3rd Street, in front of Capitol.
- 12:30pm - go down Pennsylvania Ave to encircle White House.
- 3pm - Washington Monument grounds for speeches and music.
More resources:
Questions? Contact Terry Smith, other Earth Ethics Team members, or Robyn Kravitz (coordinating text messaging).
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This Sunday's Platform
9:30 & 11:30am.
"Transforming Holidays" Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader.
Throughout human history, holidays and holy days have offered a way to tell the story of transformation, to bring hope in difficult times. This weekend marks both the Jewish celebration of Passover and the Christian celebration of Easter. But what about us? Amanda will reflect on the meaning of these and other holidays for humanists, and invite us to imagine how transformation acts in our own lives. Music from the WES Chorus, led by Music Director Bailey Whiteman.
Don't forget -- Camping trip registration is now available on the
WES website!
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This Sunday at WES.
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.
Camping Trip Info Meeting, 11am, Classroom 1A/1B.
Learn all about the camping trip for Memorial weekend! It's fun! It's great community building and this year we are opening it up to the other ethical societies for all age groups! This is a 15 minute info session.
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
jwellergrimes@gmail.com
to get involved).
Sunday Book Club, after lunch, downstairs classroom.
We will discuss "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather. This is a short story that reads very well and very quickly.
For more information, contact Rachel Hartig,
rachel.hartig@gallaudet.edu
.
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The Upcoming Weeks at WES
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Wednesday, April 12
- WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Thursday April 13
- Board of Trustees Meeting, 7pm, Library. All are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees! Agenda and materials are available in the Members' Access section of our website.
Friday, April 14
- WES People of Color Meeting, 7pm, John Bushman's Home. Please join other people of color, WES members and visitors, discuss our experiences and make connections. The event will be held at John Bushman's home. For more information check out the event at http://ethicalsociety.org/events/people-color-meeting-2/
Saturday, April 15
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An analytic framework and concrete skills for effectively developing relationships across differences
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Focus on change in a congregational context
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Participation is open to everyone regardless of previous experience with this kind of work.
 WES Humanist Seder, 6pm, Main Hall. For the full details, check out the Facebook event!
Monday, April 17
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Jam Session, 6pm, Senior Leader.
At the WES Jam Sessions, interested musicians gather to practice music (possibly with the intention of playing during platform or other events) or just to develop musical skills in a group context. Attendees bring the music they want to play, and play what is brought. All instruments, musical genres, and skill levels welcome! For more information contact Tom Bishop (tom.c.bishop@gmail.com).
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Federal Employees Gathering: Support, Solidarity, and Strategy, 7pm, Library.
Join with other federal employees to support each other and share strategies. Friends are very welcome as long as they are introduced by a WES member.
Wednesday, April 19
- WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Friday, April 21
- 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 (nkmontheroad@yahoo.com) or Shan Evans (sevans4406@yahoo.com) for more details.
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 Screening of "Death by Design," 6:30pm, Cedar Lane UU Chalice House (9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814).WES's Earth Ethics team is co-sponsoring an environmental movie "Death by Design." An optional potluck will begin at 6:30pm and the movie followed by discussion will begin at 7pm. A key question in this movie is -- "What happens to your electronics when you upgrade?" Text Chris Graham at 301-717-4204 or email Linda Silversmith at linsil@usermail.com for more information.
Sunday, April 23
- Platform Service, 9:30 & 11:30am. "Earth Day for Everyone" Khalil Shahyd. Join us for this special presentation about the intersection of environmentalism and affordable housing. Khalil Shahyd's work focuses on the Energy Efficiency for All Project, which aims to increase utility-funded energy efficiency programs in the affordable multifamily housing sector. He coordinates with NRDC's affordable housing partners to advocate for efficiency investments in the EPA's Clean Power Plan. As part of the LEED Neighborhood Development initiative, Shahyd also promotes the expansion of "green" communities in New Orleans.
- 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.
- Camping Trip Info Meeting, 11am, Classroom 1A/1B. Learn all about the camping trip for Memorial weekend! It's fun! It's great community building and this year we are opening it up to the other ethical societies for all age groups! This is a 15 minute info session.
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 Working For Racial Equity, 1pm, Social Hall. Drop in to our WRE Talk & Teach Topics to learn with and from each other. The session will include a brief learning opportunity, video and/or exercise with facilitated discussion on the following topic: Racial Wealth Disparity: What's your housing story?
- Neighborhood Potlucks, 5pm. Be on the lookout for more information from your neighborhood coordinator.
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 Students in the 1st-5th grade SEEK classes joined the Earth Ethics Team for a Second Sundays Are for Service day at Rock Creak Park. Everyone had a wonderful time cleaning up the stream. They collected 9 bags of trash and 8 bags of recyclables. Declan Nam had the most unusual find -- a folded one dollar bill, which went home in his pocket! They also collected two soccer balls, a 5 gallon bottle for a water cooler, and an H & R Block "Open" sign.
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Announcements
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Deepening Circle Openings
 One of the Thursday night Deepening Circles has a few openings. If you're interested in joining, please contact Amanda (
amandap@ethicalsociety.org). It is a commitment to meet monthly for at least the remainder of this year. However, if you are interested in a Deepening Circle at another time, feel free to contact Amanda so that she can support the creation of a new circle.
Camping Trip Sign-ups
 Grab your sleeping bag and meet us at the lake! The annual WES Camping Trip sign-ups are now online. For all of the details, be sure to check out the Camping Trip page on our website.
Don't forget! The Camping Trip is open to everyone. Grab your Young@WES friends, Still Thirsty cohort, or reading group and join us this upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Online sign-ups are preferred.
Art Showing
Last year's theme artist Barry Galef will be hosting a showing of some of his work to include his theme art!
He will be exhibiting about 35
paintings
at the Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery
at Glen Echo
. The core of the show will be the 10
paintings
he did for WES on the monthly
themes
(Creativity, Simplicity, Desire, and so forth) from 2015 into 2016.
The
paintings
have to be for sale, but collecting money is not the central purpose, and all of the net proceeds will go to charity, including WES, and further including most of money from the theme
paintings
.
The show will be up only for the weekend of April 15 and 16 -- Saturday from noon to eight, and Sunday from noon until five -- so be sure you don't let this event slip through the cracks!
The Yellow Barn is at 7300 MacArthur Boulevard in
Glen
Echo (along the Potomac, inside the Beltway). Contact Barry Galef at
barrygalef@gmail.com if you have questions.
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