38 Old Country Rd
Garden City,
NY 11530

(516) 741-7304

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A Humanist Code of Ethics for Children

The Ethical Movement has, since its beginning in 1876, attempted to stay away from dog-ma. This has sometimes led to the erroneous notion that the Society supports all ideas equally, without judgement. This is not true. We have principles, a set of values and a uniquely humanist approach to the world.

Several years ago I tried to express these ideas by writing a humanist code of ethics. This worked fine for adults but it fell far short as being useful for children. It wasn't that the ideas were beyond their grasp. Rather the language I used was too sophisticated for young ones.

This year, Sunday School teacher Sharon Stanley worked with 1st and 2nd grades on a translation. I want to present to you what they have developed, a rewording of the humanist code.

• Do no harm to the earth, she is your mother.
• People are more important than things.
• Don't put others down to make yourself feel good.
• Life is special. Treat it with respect.
• Everyone's job is important.
• Invite guests and travelers into your home.
• Always be able to say, "I'm sorry."
• Your dreams may all come true.
• Never put yourself down.
• Never think you are better than someone else.

The rewriting, along with pictures, was done by Katy Milizio, Samuel Martin Leibenhaut, Spencer Rudolph, Aaron Maxant, Mia Vissichelli and Emily Paige Weill.

What a nice contribution they have made to all the children in all the Ethical Societies.
----- Arthur Dobrin
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At our Sunday School we operate on the premise that children can be helped to develop into ethical human beings. We do this by studying human behavior and experience, using discussions, games, role plays and literature. But when ethical principles, such as courage and honesty, are brought up in the classroom they are always related back to the children's own lives, Self-reflection is what brings meaning to their ethical education.

In the classes I've taught from Primary to Seniors I've heard the children say "It isn't right to do that " "How can people do that?" because they seem to recognize in the most fundamental way that there are certain parameters to human behavior. These conclusions come about in a natural way, but are sparked by the sharing of ideas among the students, based on the curriculum presented.

For children to become ethical adults it helps for them to study ethics. They can engage in such a profound undertaking by learning how to think about what they see, hear and encounter in their lives, and drawing conclusions that are grounded in the ethical principles they have internalized in Sunday School.
------- Linda Napoli
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The two most important goals for 1998, it seems to me, should be to put our Society on a basis which will allow us to operate with a mission based budget and to begin an extensive gifting program that will firmly establish and maintain our future for many years to come. I am sure many other necessary goals will intrude during the year, but my priorities and my efforts will be based on the two mentioned above.

A mission based budget will require that our entire membership begin to think of what they deem most important for the coming years and vote to put dollars to use to make sure that those priorities come to fruition. For example: instead of thinking, as we have in the past, that we need 'x' dollars to pay for fuel and telephones and staff (the 'necessities') and then, if there are any dollars left we can enjoy the luxury of paid Sunday school teachers, we must start to think that if the Sunday school is the future of our movement, if it will grow better and stronger because we have paid professional teachers, then let's get those teachers. In order to pay for the other functions necessary to keep our Society running smoothly and properly (the necessities) we will each have to make a larger financial commitment. Thus, instead of the everyday functions of the Society being the main driving force behind your pledges, the goals for our future and the future of our children become of prime importance. Of equal importance, a mission based budget requires that all members contribute their goals and priorities to it so that it is our creation collectively. It becomes a true reflection of who and what we are and where we want to be in ten, twenty or even thirty years from now rather than being solely the creation of a finance committee or a budget committee. I think this is of utmost importance.

A voluntary program that will make our Society more a part of each of "our families," allow substantial tax savings to participating members, provide the financial foundation for the future of our Society will be ready and made available in the very near future. A large amount of time and effort has already gone into this gifting program. More will be spent by Arthur, the Board of Trustee and me to ensure that we all understand it thoroughly and it is the best possible program available anywhere. It will be brought to the membership in March of this year.

I am eagerly looking forward to the start of both programs as they each extend to us all the unique opportunity to become closer to each other, to help each other and to solidify the future of the Long Island Ethical Humanist Society.
------- Richard Rapp
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The nominating process for election to the Board of Trustees of our Society began in early January. The rules by which we draw up the list of candidates to fill the four vacancies each year is regulated by Article 6 of the EHS by-laws. Between now and the end of February all regular members of the Society are eligible to volunteer in writing as candidates for any of the vacancies or to suggest the names of members for consideration by the Nominating Committee.

The members of the Nominating Committee are: Amy Antoniazzi, Will Baum, Joan Beder, Lois Blatt, Marianne Cohen, Wayne Outten and Andrew Schofer.

Beginning in early March the Nominating Committee will meet to discuss the potential nominees in order to present to the membership a list of six candidates at our Annual Meeting held in May.

The board consists of twelve members who hold office for three years. A Trustee is only allowed to hold office for two consecutive, three-year terms. Each year four Board members step down from their post and may run again if they have served only one, three- year term. The four executive officers of the Board of Trustees are elected each year from the Board.

The leadership of the Society and the direction of our resources are the responsibilities of the Board. The minimum time required is one Wednesday evening of the month from September through June. Your involvement in the actual day-to- day workings of the Society should be an enlightening and rewarding experience. If you wish to give more of yourself you could consider heading a committee or taking on a special project.

An involved membership and a Board of Trustees consisting of hard working and caring individuals are our guarantee of a secure future for our Society. If you have never served before, now is the time! If you have previously served on the Board, your experience will add immeasurably. Why not expand your sphere of involvement and join the nominating process.

All nominations must be in writing and submitted no later than February 28,1998.
------- Andrew Jacobs
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If, on Sunday morning, the weather conditions are hazardous enough to cancel our meeting, please call the Society at (516) 741-7304. There will be a recorded message on the answering tape after 9 a.m.
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Next Meeting: February 15, 1998, 10:00 a.m.

There is one bit of unfinished business from the past few months that needs to be addressed. Many people in the Ethical Society supported the now completed boycott of the King Kullen grocery stores. The boycott had been called because King Kullen moved its warehouse operations and its attending jobs off of Long Island, in an effort to save money.

There were those on the Public Affairs Committee, as well as those in the Society in general, who questioned the wisdom of boycotting a company that was doing exactly what corporations are supposed to do: Maximize profits. Why, it was asked, was King Kullen singled out for punishment when they sought to legitimately lower their operating costs?

In the face of this question, the Public Affairs Committee still voted to support the boycott for the following reason: King Kullen was born and bred on Long Island. The company used this fact in advertising to develop customer loyalty to its chain. In fact, it was this marketing strategy that allowed King Kullen to grow to the size that it has. We felt that the company was trying to have it both ways. After having built up its customer base by advertising its strong ties to Long Island, it was then seeking to save money by moving operations and jobs elsewhere. Most of us felt this was duplicitous. Luckily a settlement was reached after 17 weeks, between the workers and the company. The boycott is now over.

We received a letter of thanks from Local 282 of the Building Material Teamsters Union thanking us for our support during the campaign to SAVE LONG ISLAND JOBS.

To continue on this theme of socially responsible behavior by corporations, the National Labor Committee came out with their holiday list of retailers which use sweatshops that have continuous records of human rights abuses. (Due to deadline limitations, this is the first newsletter for which names were available.) The National Labor Committee cites issues such as wages as low as 13 cents an hour, 12 hour (or longer) workshifts, child labor, unsafe working conditions and workers fired for attempting to organize. According to the NLC, the dishonor role is as follows: Wal-Mart, Guess?, Walt Disney Co., Nike, K-Mart, J.C.Penney, Esprit, May Co. (includes Lord & Taylor, Hechts, Filene's), and Victoria's Secret Stores.
-------- Janet Rudolph
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Ivo Antoniazzi appeared before the Board of Trustees on December 3, 1997 to speak in behalf of obtaining a website exclusively for the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, at the cost of $100. This would put us on the Internet and would be an excellent means of publicizing our Society and interesting new members. Passed unanimously.

Louise Molzahn, one of our office staff, reported to the Board about problems with some of our equipment. A major concern is the condition of the aging copier. Some research has already been done with a Riso representative who presented ideas for updating the equipment either by rental or purchase. Louise will get additional information and report back to the Board at a later date.

In response to suggestions from some of our members that, if possible, the office be open on Sundays. President Richard Rapp is attempting to make such arrangements.
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Recent contributions received by our Society include the following: Lyn and Arthur Dobrin in honor of the birthday of Dr. Milton Masur. Louise Friedman in memory of Rex Chao. Charlotte and Seymour Saft in honor of the December birthday of their son David.

As you know, contributions to the Society are a beautiful way to recognize special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, special achievements and other reasons for celebration.
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They are a not-for-profit organization and ultimately help thousands of people in need in Nassau County. The Nassau County Family Service sponsored the recent decorator - design showcase. Mansions & Millionaires produced it for the sole purpose of raising funds for the needy. It is an enormous undertaking occurring only a few times a year. It is done with dignity and flare and takes place in a mansion. I am extremely grateful to have been accepted and included as a volunteer. I find it a privilege to be a docent with this organization.
------ Sylvia Bornkoff-Polizzi
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For your convenience Louise Molzahn will be in the office on the following Sunday mornings during the Platform: February 1st, 15th and March 1st. Feel free to stop in the office, introduce yourself to her and get your questions answered.
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• Just as the old year has gone and the new year begun some of our member families have sold their homes of many years. Enid and Larry Feldman have sold the house in Valley Stream and moved to Long Beach . . . . Toby Shatkin who had open heart surgery is making excellent recovery. While she was in the hospital and then continuing to recuperate at the home of a very good friend, Alfred completed the details of selling their Uniondale home of many years, having their belongings moved to their Great Neck apartment, and supervising plumbers, carpenters and painters in anticipation of Toby's return . . . . Scott Allison, our member from Albany, NY has just purchased a home in suburban Colonie. Henrietta Nessin is in the process of completing the sale of her Garden City residence and making arrangements to move to a retirement community. This may take a while since her broken ankle, at this writing, won't be out of its cast for another couple of weeks. We wish all these members much happiness in their new homes. We are delighted that some are remaining in our area and all in our Society.... We've heard that Seymour Saft is progressing nicely at the extended care facility of North Shore Hospital. Letters might help him make even better progress.
• On the artistic front we have heard that Matthew Napoli will be participating in a dance program at Lincoln Center with the Clark School of Dance, in February . . .Gordon Inyard, brother of GraceAnn, is represented in a newly published art book called "Diners", with five of his paintings....Dan Anntoniazzi's band called "Krumpets and Skones" is a part of a Long Island Ska compilation album. If you are interested in purchasing the album call Dan at (516) 378-3115 for more information..... Bernadette Joe's high school string ensemble performed during the December holiday season at the Source Mall in Garden City. Surely the music helped to relax the frenzied shoppers..... April Inyard played the violin at Tilles Center during the high school students Festival of Music.... While we are on the subject of our talented musicians, Richard Rapp was unable to be at our Winter Festival to accompany the songmakers. He was awaiting the delivery of a baby grand piano which he inherited from his father.
• Steve Englemann was the subject of a profile in Newsday recently. He is a clinical psychologist who has been working in the mental health field since 1964 including 30 years as an administrator and therapist at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, from which he retired in 1995. He is currently the coordinator of the Assertive Community Treatment team (ACT) of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, in Rockaway. The focus of this program is a new approach for out patient mental treatment where a team goes to the client's home.There, it is much harder for them to resist services such as counseling and medication monitoring. Steve says, "we've been successful in keeping them out of the hospital or, if they do relapse, getting a shorter stay."
• Mimi Koenig's first grandchild graduated from Alfred University. David Westerman has gotten the opportunity to start an antique furniture restoration business in Jericho. It is called "West Van" and, should you want to use his services, he can be reached at (516) 827-0982.
• Irene Antoniazzi, ever the humanist, participated with Local 282 Teamsters who were picketing at the King Kullen warehouse before the strike was settled.
• Once again this year Irene has been collecting toilet articles in sample sizes. She assembles individual packets for distribution to homeless people at the shelters.
• In recent months we have had a number of visitors. What is so pleasing is that they come to the Platform meeting to share our Sunday morning experience. Amy Antoniazzi was visited by her cousin Sheryl from Arizona. Felicia Madjedi shared her father, George Steinitz and her son, Mark with us. Susan Teshu, our Ethical Society Leadership intern presided at our last Sunday of 1997. Since it was an interactive program we were especially pleased to meet members of the intentional community in which she lives. Robert Dove, Johnn Prance and her children, Noah and Corina Teshu were all with us that day.
• Anne and Irving Sheraga returned from a visit to their son's family in El Paso Texas in time to observe their 56th wedding anniversary, as well as Irving's birthday. Both Julia and Morris Sukenik had birthdays in January but were unable to observe them because Morris had been in the hospital with what was thought to be a throat infection but was an ulcer. When diagnosis was refined he was allowed to go home and is proceeding toward recovery
  ---------- Gertrude Delson

All members are welcome at all Board meetings. They are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Visitors are encouraged to contribute to any subject. If there is something that you wish the Board to consider please try to give us at least two weeks notice.
-------- President, Richard Rapp
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One of our long-time members, Betty Phillipoff, will celebrate her 100th birthday in February. If you would like to send her a congratulatory message, please send it to: 450 67th Street West, Bradenton, Florida 34209
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Linda Joe is the newly appointed representative from our Society to the Board of the American Ethical Union. At the quarterly meeting on December 13, 1997 the national Ethical Action Committee discussed and agreed to a proposal to 'adopt' task forces at various Societies, which focus on specific areas for social action. The aim is to encourage cross Society links for mutual cooperation.

At the meeting three such existing efforts were identified. The first is the National Health Insurance Task Force which was initiated by the Ethical Action Committee at the St. Louis Society under the leadership of Gene Schwartz. The second is the Haiti Projects in Partnership of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture under the leadership of Charles Horwitz. He is also the chairperson of the National Ethical Action Committee. It was also voted to support a task force on Child Welfare. The New York Society and the National Leaders Council have already taken initiatives in this area.
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During December and January our Amnesty International chapter and our Society members participated in the annual holiday card campaign for prisoners of conscience. While Amnesty's efforts are generally aimed at governments, morally pressuring them to release prisoners by sending letters to officials, the letters and greeting cards at this time of year were sent, wherever possible, to prisoners themselves, so as to lift their morale.

In December 25, 1997 issue of the Long Beach Herald Arthur Dobrin was quoted as saying " Holidays mean little to prisoners who believe they have been forgotten by the world. A simple greeting card, however, can bring renewed hope."

Surrounding a picture of Enid and Larry Feldman, the Long Beach Herald detailed the letter writing and greeting card campaign in which a sampling of prisoners from different parts of the world, who are particularly despondent and in need of a boost to their spirits, are selected by staff members at Amnesty Internationals Atlanta, GA office. In this year's campaign persecuted political activists in Turkey, Columbia, China, Syria, Nigeria and other countries were written to.

Past recipients, when subsequently released, have written letters of thanks to their correspondents and to Amnesty international with words like, "remain forever indebted" and, "your letters brought us hope and strength in prison."
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